Sinwar was Palestinian militant group’s most senior figure and the mastermind of the 7 October attack that triggered the war in Gaza

• Middle East crisis live – latest updates

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, has been killed by Israeli forces, Israel’s foreign minister has said, ending a year-long hunt.

Katz confirmed reports on Thursday in a statement sent to counterparts around the world. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said almost immediately after Katz’s statement was reported by Israeli media that Sinwar had been “eliminated”.