Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli army operation in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the war is not over.

Netanyahu added in a press conference today, Thursday, that the Israeli army will continue with full force until the detainees are returned, saying, "We have dealt a blow to evil, but the mission is not complete," according to his description.

He stressed that Hamas will no longer rule the Gaza Strip, and addressed the movement's fighters, saying, "To those holding the kidnapped, we say, free them and we will let you live."

He said the Middle East has an opportunity to stop what he describes as the "axis of evil", to bring peace and prosperity to the region, he claimed.

Minutes before Netanyahu's speech, the Israeli army confirmed that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday in clashes in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas has not yet commented on the Israeli announcement.

Israel considers Sinwar the mastermind behind the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023, which killed more than a thousand Israeli soldiers and settlers.