The Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives has applauded the claim by Israel that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed, saying his death had brought “relief” to the people of Israel, Al Jazeera reports.

“Sinwar’s life was the embodiment of evil and marked by hatred for all that is good in the world,” Mike Johnson said in a statement. “His death brings hope for all those who seek to live in freedom, and relief to Israelis he has sought to oppress.”