Last Thursday, Oct. 17, Israeli Authorities confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar was killed by gunfire during a shootout in southern Gaza, and later his body was seized for an autopsy performed by the Israeli National Forensic Institute. Dr. Chen Kugel, the director of the institute, reported that Sinwar was in poor condition before his death, with arm wounds likely from shrapnel impact earlier that day.

Following the announcement of his death, various responses to the situation arose from figures from across the globe. Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, stated in a televised broadcast in Israel, that while Sinwar may be dead, the war is “Not yet over.” Khalil Al-Hayya, Sinwars deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, affirmed after the death, saying,“We are continuing in Hamas’s path.”

For the past months, tensions in the region have escalated. As of now, Sinwar’s death has not significantly changed the conflict. It is expected that the incident will not create a definitive turning point in diffusing the situation.