Jerusalem: The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it has successfully eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, during a targeted operation in the southern Gaza Strip.

Sinwar has been accused by Israel of orchestrating the deadly October 7, 2023 attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz referred to Sinwar as a “mass murderer,” stating, “The mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was eliminated by IDF soldiers.” Reports indicate that the military’s operation followed a year-long pursuit of Sinwar, who had been at the top of Israel’s wanted list.

The operation took place in Rafah, where Israeli forces also killed three other militants and recovered their bodies. While the military suggested that visual evidence indicated one of the deceased was likely Sinwar, confirmation through DNA testing is pending. Israel possesses DNA samples from Sinwar dating back to his time in an Israeli prison.

This significant development comes after a series of high-profile assassinations targeting Hamas leaders, marking a notable victory for the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a broader context, the conflict has resulted in over 42,000 fatalities in Gaza since the initial attacks, alongside widespread destruction and mass displacement of the population.

Meanwhile, Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar’s death.

California: Meta is set to implement another round of job cuts, following significant layoffs in 2022 and 2023 that saw 11,000 and 10,000 employees, respectively. This latest round, however, is reported to be on a smaller scale, affecting various teams within the company, including those working on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Threads, according to The Verge.

Jane Manchun Wong, a Meta employee, shared her experience on Threads, expressing her shock at being laid off. “I’m still trying to process this, but I’ve been informed that my role at Meta has been impacted. Thank you to my Threads and Instagram teammates for the wild journey at Meta. If anyone is interested in working together, especially on software/security engineering, please reach out via my email or LinkedIn,” she posted.

In a statement to The Verge, Meta confirmed the layoffs. Dave Arnold, a spokesperson for the company, stated, “Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy.” He added that the restructuring may involve relocating some teams and reassigning employees to new roles. While efforts are being made to find alternative positions for affected staff, Meta has not disclosed the exact number of layoffs involved in this round.

In March 2023, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg underscored the need for efficiency within the organization, stating, “A leaner organization will execute its highest priorities faster. People will be more productive, and their work will be more fun and fulfilling.”