GERMANY: US President Joe Biden hailed Israel's claims of killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a "good day" for the world, saying it removed a key obstacle to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.

"This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world," Biden, who was traveling to Germany on Air Force One as the news broke, said in a written statement.

"Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us," he said.

Biden told reporters on arrival that he had called Netanyahu to "congratulate him on getting Sinwar", adding that the Hamas leader "had a lot of blood on his hands."

Vice President Kamala Harris added that killing of the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attacks was a chance to "finally end the war in Gaza."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was the “beginning of the end” of the bombardment in Gaza.

“Yahya Sinwar is dead. He was killed in Rafah by the brave soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces,” Netanyahu said in an English language video statement released by his office.

“While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end. “

Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Thursday "the spirit of resistance will be strengthened" following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.