The killing of Yahya Sinwar: Not the endgame?

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has reportedly been killed.

Images of Sinwar, draped in military fatigues and covered in dust with a possibly amputated hand, show him striking an Israeli drone in what appear to be his final moments. These visuals have sparked contrasting narratives—triumphalism and revenge in Israel, met with renewed resolve for resistance across the Arab world.

The question now is: does Sinwar’s killing offer a “victory narrative" and the possibility of ending the war, or as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggests, is this merely “the beginning of an end"? More critically, does the conflict now rest on Israel and Netanyahu’s decisions, or will it spiral into a cycle of revenge fuelled by the politics of martyrdom and resistance? Read this | Sinwar’s death gives Israel a choice: To pursue war or peace The US was quick to declare that justice has been served with the killing of Yahya Sinwar, suggesting this development could pave the way for a ceasefire and a potential hostage deal—Sinwar having been seen as an obstacle to negotiations. However, while the US may seek to project optimism or assert its relevance by influencing its belligerent ally Israel and pushing for a ceasefire, it is crucial to acknowledge that this war extends far beyond the killing of key Hamas leaders or even the weakening of the Iran-backed “axis of resistance".

This war for Israel revolves around the future of Gaza and the Palestinians, rooted in narratives of existential threats, questions of state identity, and historical patterns that resist predictions—or even hopes—of a ceasefire. The conflict was triggered by Hamas' unprecedented