Kamala Harris has hailed the death of Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza and prepare for “the day after” when Hamas no longer dominates the area.

The US vice president and Democratic candidate said “justice was served” by the death of the Hamas leader, adding that the US, Israel and the rest of the world were “better off” as a result.

Harris was locked in a titanic election battle with Donald Trump to win the battleground state of Michigan, home to a large Arab-American voting bloc sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. Harris also urged an end to years of hostilities that have killed more than 42,000 people. people in Gaza and left a trail of destruction in the area.

“Hamas has been decimated and its leadership eliminated,” she said. “This moment gives us the opportunity to finally put an end to the war in Gaza.” The end of the conflict had to be accompanied by security for Israel, the release of the remaining hostages and an end to suffering in Gaza, she said.

She also hinted at her support for the Palestinian state, saying it should usher in Palestinians’ rights to “dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”

Her comments echoed those of Joe Biden, who has been criticized by progressives for his continued support for Israel even as Netanyahu had ignored his pleas to prevent civilian casualties and ease humanitarian suffering in the small coastal region.

“Israel had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas,” Biden said in remarks that appeared intended to respond to criticism of his support.

He said Sinwar was an “insurmountable obstacle” to a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. “That obstacle no longer exists. But there is still a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

Biden said he would talk to Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders about “ending this war once and for all.”

After the two leaders spoke late Thursday, the White House said they “discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and end the war, while ensuring Israel’s security and Hamas never being able to would be to gain control of Gaza.”

However, Netanyahu – who has been accused of delaying a ceasefire deal – hinted that the conflict was far from over. “The war is still going on,” he said in a televised address late Thursday.

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, called Sinwar – the architect of the October 7 attack on Israel – a “cruel and unrepentant terrorist” and said he had repeatedly torpedoed deals that would have ended the conflict.

“In recent months, Sinwar has repeatedly rejected efforts by the United States and its partners to end this war through an agreement that would return the hostages to their families and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” Blinken said.

The news was also welcomed by leaders of the US Congress. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sinwar’s life was “the embodiment of evil and marked by hatred for all that is good in the world.”

“His death brings hope to all who want to live in freedom, and relief to the Israelis he tried to oppress,” Johnson said.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he hoped the event would lead to “an end to hostilities that will guarantee the security of the Israeli people and provide full humanitarian assistance and a new path forward for the people of Gaza.” offer”.

Former CIA director David Petraeus told the BBC that Sinwar’s death was “bigger than” the killing of Osama bin Laden by US special forces in 2011, and was “both hugely symbolic… but also hugely operational” because Sinwar was the overall leader of Hamas was.

The news was also welcomed by European figures and the NATO alliance.

Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, called Sinwar “the mastermind behind the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust,” adding: “Today my thoughts are with the families of those victims. Britain will not mourn his death.

“The release of all hostages, an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid are long overdue so that we can achieve long-term, lasting peace in the Middle East.”

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: “Yahya Sinwar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7. France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, also called for the release of the hostages. “I am convinced that a new phase must be initiated: it is time for all hostages to be released, for an immediate ceasefire to be declared and for the reconstruction of Gaza to begin,” she said.

The sentiment was echoed by Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, who said Hamas must “lay down its arms.”