Yahya Sinwar's death is a "huge scalp" for Israel – the largest so far during the war, says Anders Persson, political scientist at Linnaeus University and expert on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Sinwar is, after all, number one on Israel's death list.
Sinwar's death may provide an opportunity for Israel to end the conflict.
It gives Israel a possible victory narrative, making it easier to declare the war over, says Persson.
Unclear direction
However, he still does not see a clear direction forward from Israel.
It's about whether to prioritize the war and a military victory or to prioritize releasing hostages and a ceasefire.
When it comes to Hamas and the way forward, the organization, according to Persson, has lost its undisputed leader, who also had the final say in the hostage negotiations.
There is no given number two. It's hard to see who or who will succeed him. And then it's also hard to see what policy they will, or will not, pursue.
Increased threat
He says that there are still no signs that Hamas' fate will be what Israel hopes for – namely, that the organization will disintegrate on its own and that people will give up.
There is also a risk that the situation will escalate, depending on Hamas' current capabilities.
One way to escalate would be to send suicide bombers from the West Bank against Israel.
Anders Persson says that Sinwar's death also clearly increases the threat against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad.
And it doesn't have to be Hamas that responds. It could be an individual or anyone who gets it into their head to do it.
