The removal of Sinwar from the battlefield presents an opportunity for a cease-fire, according to the State Department.

The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli troops presented an "opportunity" for a potential cease-fire and an end to the yearlong war, according to the State Department on Thursday.

Until Sinwar's death, there was no way to end the war because Sinwar refused to discuss releasing the hostages, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

"With Hamas's leader removed from the battlefield, we saw an opportunity to seize," Miller stated.

As of October 2024, Hamas militants are still holding approximately 100 hostages, nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in which Sinwar, the chief architect, led the attack that killed nearly 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others, leaving the country in shock.

Israeli forces celebrated Sinwar's death as a significant triumph, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that his country will persist in its struggle until all hostages are liberated. He declared that Israeli forces will maintain control over Gaza for an extended period to prevent Hamas from rearming.

Despite the death of Sinwar, Hamas has shown resilience in the face of past losses of its leaders.

""We can be sure that the world is a better place without Sinwar, and this presents an opportunity we didn't have while he was still in charge of Hamas. However, we must wait to see what this will mean in the future," Miller stated."

Over the past year, Israeli forces have killed more than 42,000 Palestinians and destroyed a significant portion of the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry reports that half of those killed were women and children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.