Israel kills Hamas leader Sinwar, but Gaza conflict persists

Israel has taken out Yahya Sinwar‚ Hamas top dog and mastermind behind the attacks on 10/7/23 that caused nearly 1200 deaths. This move‚ while significant doesnt seem to be a game-changer in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. It does however‚ show how Israel has seriously damaged Hamas as an organization but both sides seem ready to keep the fight going. Israel still hasnt figured out whats next for Gaza

Sinwar was a big shot in Hamas from the get-go. He spent a long time behind bars until he got out in a prisoner swap back in 11. Known for his tough guy attitude‚ Israel made him their number one target after the 10/7 attacks – calling him a “dead man walking“. Now‚ after more than a year of brutal fighting‚ theyʼve made good on that promise

In theory Sinwars death could make a ceasefire more likely. He was all for keeping the war going because it was hurting Israels image and its relationship with the US. He didnt mind if regular people in Gaza suffered a lot to get what he wanted

For Israel‚ taking out Sinwar is a win politically. It shows Netanyahu is keeping his word to crush Hamas. With him gone – along with other key guys like Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa – a big chunk of Hamas leadership in Gaza is toast. Hamas is hurting outside Gaza too‚ especially after Israel got Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran a few months back

Israel says theyʼve wiped out a ton of Hamas fighters – more than a third of the 42000 or so Gazans theyʼve killed. Thats a huge hit for a group that had maybe 25000 to 30000 fighters before 10/7. Israel has also kicked Hamas out as the boss in Gaza‚ taking away their money power and street cred

Its gonna be tough for Hamas to bounce back from this. Losing so many top experienced guys means newer less-experienced ones will have to step up. Theyʼll need to prove themselves to Hamas supporters and their own people

The non-stop killing makes it dangerous for Hamas leaders to talk to each other‚ which makes it hard to run things. They could try to give orders‚ but they might end up like Sinwar‚ Deif‚ and the rest. But not talking leaves Hamas without direction at a critical time

What kind of Hamas will come out of this mess? On one hand‚ the beating theyʼve taken from Israel might make future leaders think twice about picking a fight with a stronger enemy. Hamas could use some time to rebuild and try to win back support

On the other hand‚ new Hamas leaders might double down on what they call resistance. Under Sinwar‚ Hamas hit Israel hard‚ put Palestine back in the spotlight‚ and hurt Israels reputation. Giving up now might undo all that. Plus‚ after losing so many leaders fighters and civilians‚ theres a strong desire for payback

Israel doesnt look like its gonna let up on Hamas anytime soon. Theyʼre still all in on destroying the group‚ both in words and actions. Hamas has bounced back from big losses before. While many Israelis want a ceasefire to get hostages back‚ Netanyahus government is focused on keeping the pressure on Hamas

For Israel‚ killing Sinwar doesnt solve the bigger problem of whos gonna run Gaza. More than a year after 10/7‚ Israel still hasnt figured out a realistic plan for governing Gaza. A failed state is probably whats gonna happen in Gaza‚ at least for now and maybe for a long time

In that kind of situation‚ Hamas – even if its weak and messed up – might be able to hang on or even come back stronger. But for regular people in Gaza‚ theres no end in sight to the war and suffering