U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was a major achievement that presents an extraordinary opportunity to end “this terrible war” between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports.

“Sinwar’s death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, end this terrible war, allow Israelis to return safely to their homes in southern Israel, rush in far more humanitarian assistance to ease the misery in Gaza, and bring relief and hope to the Palestinians who have endured so much under Hamas’s oppressive rule,” Austin said in a statement.