It is far from clear how late “later on” is. Israel has now been at war with Hamas for more than 19 months. Dozens of hostages have died. And, as Netanyahu’s backtracking implicitly acknowledged, there is no immediate prospect for the remaining living hostages to be freed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that a recent airstrike killed Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’ elusive de facto leader in Gaza, the latest in a string of assassinations that have dealt a serious blow to the group’s top brass but are yet to break its grip on power.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel has killed senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, one of Israel's most wanted targets.

Gaza Hamas's unconditional release of US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander this month had raised hopes that a Gaza ceasefire deal was within reach. Nearly two weeks later, that optimism has all but evaporated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was 'probably' killed in an air strike. Netanyahu expressed willingness to consider a temporary ceasefire and hostage exchange but emphasized that all of Gaza will ultimately be under Israeli control.

Israeli PM Netanyahu has confirmed that Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar was killed in a recent airstrike. Sinwar took over after his brother Yahya’s death. Hamas has not confirmed the killing yet.

Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of the group's deceased leader Yahya Sinwar, has been killed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Hamas chief Mohammad Sinwar has been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar — the brother of the group's deceased former leader Yahya Sinwar — has been killed.

JERUSALEM − Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, one of its most wanted and the younger brother of the group's deceased leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. The annoucement was made May 28.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face a defining choice between a politically motivated "war of deception" in Gaza and a deal to release all hostages while ending the war. He must choose between his extreme-right ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—or aligning with Donald Trump.