Yahya Sinwar death: European leaders react – POLITICO

European leaders grimly welcomed the news that the Israel Defense Forces had killed Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, and expressed hope it could lead to a cease-fire in Gaza.

“His death is certainly significantly weakening Hamas,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday at a press conference after the European Council, a regular gathering of the leaders of the EU’s 27 member countries. The news of Sinwar’s death in an IDF strike broke during the summit.

European Council President Charles Michel said Sinwar was “responsible for the suffering of people in Gaza because of his action” as one of the main planners of last year’s attack by Hamas on Israel.