The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on October 17 confirmed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during operations in Rafah, Gaza. Sinwar, widely regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre in Israel, was killed alongside two others in a targeted operation.

The death of Sinwar in an Israeli strike in Gaza could make negotiations with Israel "extremely difficult" and potentially prolong the conflict in the region, experts warned on October 19.

Earlier in the afternoon, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant took to X to post a quote from the Hebrew biblical book of Leviticus, stating: "You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you."

Israel confirmed Sinwar's death after an extensive study of dental records, marking a significant moment in its year-long offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Dr Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor of Defence Studies at King's College London, told Reuters that Sinwar's death creates a "leadership vacuum" that will complicate negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

"It will be very difficult to strike a deal with anyone within Hamas now to get the hostages back," Krieg said, adding that continued resistance could lead to a "protracted, atrocious conflict in Gaza" unlikely to end soon.

However, some analysts see the potential for change. Mark Wallace, CEO at United Against Nuclear Iran, suggested that Sinwar's death could allow Israel to focus on other pressing matters, including securing its northern border and responding to Iran's recent attack.

The assassination could lead to "fragmentation" within Hamas and the "collapse of communications, command and control," according to Edmund Fitton Brown, Senior Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project.

Potential successors to Sinwar include Khaled Meshaal, former chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, and Khalil al-Hayya, a high-ranking Hamas official.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the war could end "tomorrow" if Hamas lays down its arms and returns the remaining hostages. However, experts caution that Palestinian groups may struggle to negotiate peace terms without top leadership.

The death of Sinwar, a key figure in Hamas and one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, comes at a critical juncture in the conflict that has claimed over 42,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities.

 "The volunteer dentists of the police identification division identified Sinwar's body thanks to photos from the area. The identification procedure by comparing teeth is a quick and accurate procedure that was used more than once throughout the war and since October 7," the Israeli Police stated.

Still, the Shin Bet refused to give definite confirmation of Sinwar's death, stating that the body that was located still needs to be examined further for verification.

The Hamas leadership role is vacant yet again following the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, and now Sinwar, it remains to be seen how many people are willing to take up the role.