On Thursday, Oct. 17, Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas, was killed during an IDF operation in Gaza.
Sinwar was widely regarded as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which Hamas slaughtered more than 1,200 men, women and children in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Some 251 were taken hostage, but that number is considerably lower today.
Sinwar’s long history with Israel includes killing and kidnapping Israeli soldiers and being held in an Israeli prison for over 20 years.
In response to Sinwar’s death, the American Jewish Committee, a global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, said, “We pray that this critical development will lead to the return of the hostages and help pave the way for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
The American Jewish Committee has a headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts and partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide. The committee’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.
Eric Post, the Long Island director of the American Jewish Committee, said while there is “somewhat of a relief” in the Jewish community following the news of Sinwar’s death, there are “very mixed” reactions, too.
“On one hand, I think as supporters of Israel, we feel vindicated that Israel has eliminated the leader of Hamas and the person who orchestrated these attacks,” Post said. “But on the other hand, our minds are on the 101 hostages, including seven Americans, who are in Gaza, and what this means for that situation. We’re yet to see.”
The wounds of Oct. 7 are still fresh for everyone, especially for the Jewish community of Long Island, home of Plainview native Omer Neutra, a soldier in the Israeli Army who was taken hostage on Oct. 7 by Hamas.
The Long Island Chapter of the American Jewish Committee has been working with Neutra’s family over the past year to raise awareness for the hostages in Gaza, Post said.
“It’s just a very tentative spot we’re in. We’re praying for the best, we hope that good will come from this, to free the hostages, which I think is first and foremost on our mind and on Israel’s mind and really what we hope this will lead to,” Post said.
Rabbi Moshe Weisblum, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Wantagh, said “Sinwar was a man that didn’t value life whether it was of his own people or other nations.”
“Judaism teaches us not to be joyous when our enemy perishes and always pray for them to repent and change their ways to love all mankind. We pray that this will conclude the saga and era of hatred,” Weisblum said.
“May peace and love prevail between Israel and its neighboring countries, just as the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Menchem Begin, Israel’s prime minister, and Anwar Sadat, Egypt’s president made this dream a reality. Begin prophesized in the most powerful words, there shall be, ‘No more war, no more bloodshed.’ We continue praying for the same. Amen.”
