More than a year after Hamas’ devastating October 7 attacks on Israel, the country’s military said Thursday it had killed the man it considers to have been the chief architect of that cross-border incursion – raising questions about the future of the war and of the militant group itself,

Israel had hunted the architect of the 7 October atrocities for more than a year. A chance encounter in Rafah got him.

Biden administration officials are celebrating the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar at the hands of Israel Defense Forces as a triumph of justice over evil, but also as a key opportunity to settle the war in Gaza by relaunching negotiations aimed at securing a cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages in the enclave.