Israel vows to kill new Hamas political leader who plotted Oct. 7 massacre

Israel is vowing to kill the new political leader of Hamas, with an IDF official saying the only place he belongs is beside the group’s slain military commander and the rest of the "October 7th terrorists."

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ top official in Gaza and one of the masterminds of the massacre that launched the Israel-Hamas war, has become Hamas' new political chief following the July 31 assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

"There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists," Israel Defense Forces Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in an interview with Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, according to The Associated Press.

Israel says it has killed Deif, the head of Hamas’ military wing and another Oct. 7 attack mastermind, in a strike in southern Gaza last month. Hamas has not confirmed Deif’s death.

HAMAS NAMES YAHYA SINWAR, MASTERMIND OF OCT. 7 ATTACKS, AS ITS NEW LEADER AFTER HANIYEH ASSASSINATION

"Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist, who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history -- October 7th," Hagari added during the interview with Al-Arabiya.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Sinwar has the power to ensure a cease-fire deal is reached in the Israel-Hamas war.

Sinwar "has been and remains the primary decider when it comes to concluding the cease-fire, and so I think this only underscores the fact that it’s really on him to decide whether to move forward with a cease-fire that manifestly will help so many Palestinians in desperate need, women, children, men who are caught in a crossfire," Blinken said. "It really is on him."

ISRAEL SAYS IT HAS KILLED TOP HAMAS MILITARY COMMANDER MOHAMMED DEIF

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav