President Biden and Vice President Harris both made official statements on the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Thursday afternoon, shortly after Israeli officials confirmed Swinwar's DNA matched the body IDF forces found Wednesday night beneath ruins.
In a statement released by White House Jewish Liaison Shelley Greenspan, Biden said Israel informed his national security team of the mission that killed Sinwar early on Thursday morning.
"This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world," Biden said.
Biden described the day as one of relief and similar to scenes witnessed throughout the US after Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011.
As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries, Biden said, and was the mastermind of the October 7 massacres, rapes, and kidnappings.
"It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children," he added.
Biden said shortly after October 7, he directed Special Operations personnel and US intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza.
A long time coming
With US intelligence help, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas’s leaders, "flushing them out of their hiding places and forcing them onto the run," Biden said.
"There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground," he said. "Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes."
Biden added Israel has every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. He said Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.
Biden said he will be "speaking soon" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to "congratulate them," discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home and for ending this war "once and for all."
"There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike," Biden said. " Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us."
Harris addressed reporters during a campaign stop in Wisconsin.
She echoed Biden, saying the entire world is better off without Sinwar.
"He had American blood on his hands," she said, noting that seven Americans were taken into Hamas captivity. "Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief."
Harris added that Sinwar was the mastermind of October 7 which triggered this devastating War in Gaza that has led to unconscionable suffering of many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East.
She commended the work of the American Special Operations and intelligence personnel for working closely with their Israeli counterparts.
"And I will say to any terrorist who kills Americans, threatens the American people or threatens our troops or our interests, know this: we will always bring you to justice," Harris said. "Israel has a right to defend itself, and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated."
She echoed Biden again in calling for this moment to be the opportunity to end the war in Gaza in a way that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self.
"Today," she said. "There is clear progress toward that goal."