In a message to dozens of his counterparts around the world, the Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz confirms that its leader Hamas Yahya Sinwar was killed, becoming the first Israeli official to do so.

“The mass murderer Sinuar, who is responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was killed today by IDF soldiers,” says Katz, according to his office.

“This is a great military and moral achievement for Israel and a victory for the entire free world against the evil axis of radical Islam led by Iran,” he continues.

Katz says the killing “creates a possibility” for the immediate release of the hostages and the creation of a Gaza free of Hamas and Iranian control.

“Israel needs your support and help now more than ever to advance these important goals together,” concludes Katz.

Official confirmation from the IDF as well

In addition to the Israeli foreign minister, the IDF also proceeded to official announcementconfirming that Sinuar is dead.

A DNA test had previously been carried out to determine whether the body found in the Tal Al Sultan area, which is near Rafah, (the site of an Israeli strike) belonged to the Hamas leader.

Hamas is on the same wavelength. Sources in the group said late this afternoon that indications suggest that the group’s leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in an Israeli operation. The Palestinian Islamist movement has not made an official comment.

Channel 12 reported that an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Hamas leader was dead. Ministers who sit in Israel’s security cabinet have been told that Sinwar is likely dead, two other officials also said.

As reports and speculation about Sinwar’s death mount, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallad emphasized in a post on X:

“We will get to every terrorist and destroy them” In his post, the defense minister attached photos of former Hamas military leader Mohammed Daif and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with the photos marked with a red “X”, a third black photo it is also marked with an “X”, in an apparent reference to Sinuar.