Intro

Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, played a central role in planning the deadly assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that set off the war in Gaza. His killing was a major win for Israel, and prompted calls from Israeli leaders for Hamas to surrender.

But what actually happens next is unclear.

Ronen Bergman, who has been covering the conflict, explains how Israel got its No. 1 target, and what his death means for the future of the war.

Guest: Ronen Bergman, a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, based in Tel Aviv.

Background reading: 

• Analysis: Mr. Sinwar is dead. Will the fighting stop?
• A chance encounter led to the Hamas leader’s death.
• Obituary: Mr. Sinwar was a militant commander known for his brutality and cunning.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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