The leader of Hamas was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post.

I'm Hannah Jewel. It's Friday October 18th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

Yejia Sinwar was the architect of the October 7th attacks on Israel.

He was born in a refugee camp in Gaza and was a founding member of Hamas's student movement

while he was at university. He spent 22 years in Israeli

jails and built a reputation as a brutal enforcer helping to build Hamas into a

powerful militia force against Israel.

He became the group's Gaza-based leader in 2017.

Israel said its troops killed him on Wednesday

and confirmed his death yesterday using DNA.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to the press yesterday

aboard Air Force 1.

At various points along the way,

Seymour was more interested in causing mayhem and chaos and death than actually trying to achieve a ceasefire and hostage deal.

And we repeatedly saw moments where it was him in particular who stood in the way of making progress towards

a ceasefire and hostage deal. Now there were other obstacles too along the way but

he was certainly a critical one and, I think his removal from the battlefield

does present an opportunity to find a way forward

that gets the hostages home,

brings the war to an end, brings us to a day after.

Despite this optimism from U.S. officials, Hamas as an organization has not been destroyed.

...