The Leader of Hamas Is Dead

Also, Biden traveled to Germany as the U.S. wrestles with military aid. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.

Yahya Sinwar, the Palestinian militant leader who orchestrated Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, was killed during a battle in Gaza. The Israeli military said today that it confirmed his death using a sample of his DNA.

Sinwar, who was known for his brutality and elusiveness, had been the No. 1 target for Israel since the beginning of the war. He was believed to still be closely overseeing Hamas military operations, and Israel, along with the U.S., had dedicated vast resources to hunt him down. But in the end, a unit of trainee squad commanders unexpectedly encountered him while on an operation in southern Gaza.

The Israeli soldiers, who were backed by drones, engaged in a firefight, bringing down part of a building and killing three Palestinian militants. When the dust settled, they retrieved a body that Israel later confirmed was Sinwar’s — a surprising place to find a man who was believed to be hiding out underground.

Sinwar was considered the driving force behind Hamas’s refusal to surrender. His death could unlock stalled truce talks, but major barriers still remain. Sinwar’s hard-line brother, Muhammad, is believed to still be alive and to retain significant influence.

Many Gazans welcomed the news, hoping it would mean a quick end to the conflict. Others said they didn’t believe the reports. For families of hostages in Israel, it brought satisfaction, but also deep trepidation over the fate of the captives.

Trump will go to a charity event where he’s often been mocked

Later tonight, Donald Trump is set to attend the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City, a high-powered event of the political and Roman Catholic elite that gives presidential candidates a chance to mock each other just weeks before the election. Kamala Harris, who is spending the day campaigning across the battleground state of Wisconsin, declined the invitation.

The venue will give Trump, who has been repeatedly mocked at the event, a lighthearted setting to play to the crowd. In recent weeks, some of Trump’s advisers and allies have privately expressed concern about his impetuousness and scattershot style, which they worry may not land with crucial undecided voters.

On the campaign trail

The presidential election is 19 days away.

• Trump keeps promising new tax cuts. Other Republicans are wary.
• As door knocking gets harder, Harris’s campaign is betting on new technology.
• A secretive $700 million ad-testing factory has ascended to the top of the Democratic political universe. It has also drawn suspicion and second-guessing.
• Second-home owners might be able to swing some close New York elections.
• Will the polls be accurate this year? Here’s what we know.

Biden heads to Germany as the U.S. wrestles with military aid

President Biden landed in Berlin this afternoon for a farewell visit to Germany. He will spend less than 24 hours there, meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leaders of France and Britain to discuss strategy for the war in Ukraine.

The Biden administration has announced a shipment of arms to Ukraine or the Middle East nearly every week for months. Some Pentagon officials worry that the flow of weapons could be hurting the U.S. military’s ability to respond to a new conflict, particularly in the Pacific.

A Texas court delayed an execution in a shaken baby case

Hours before the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson, a Texas man convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002, a state court this evening ordered a temporary delay. Roberson’s conviction relied on a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome that has since been questioned.

A Texas judge granted a temporary restraining order, which could delay the execution for at least another few days. The decision came after members of the Texas House argued that Roberson should be allowed to testify at a legislative hearing on Monday. A lawyer for the state attorney general suggested that the decision would be immediately appealed.

More top news

• U.S.: A review of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally in July called on the Secret Service to replace its leadership with people from the private sector.
• Auto: In an interview, Mary Barra, the General Motors chief executive, said the company would start turning a profit on electric cars by the end of the year.
• Business: Retail sales rose ahead of economists’ expectations in September, indicating that consumer demand remains solid.
• India: Doctors went on a hunger strike to demand justice for the brutal rape and killing of a medical resident.
• Bangladesh: After the autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country, former political captives spoke out about the secret prison known as the House of Mirrors.
• Religion: The archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to settle sex abuse claims, bringing its cumulative payout to more than $1.5 billion.
• U.K.: A bill introduced in the House of Commons could legalize assisted dying for the terminally ill.
• Music: Liam Payne, 31, a former member of One Direction, died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Here’s what we know so far.

TIME TO UNWIND

Mikey Madison becomes a star in ‘Anora’

Once in awhile, a movie earns the cliché of a “star-making turn.” This year, our critic Alissa Wilkinson writes, “Anora” deserves that title. A bawdy, comedic fable that arrives in theaters tomorrow, “Anora” won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and has already elevated its director, Sean Baker, into awards conversations.

More conspicuously, the movie’s star, Mikey Madison, delivers a career-making performance as a tough-as-nails sex worker who impulsively marries a Russian oligarch’s son. At every moment, Alissa writes, Madison is mesmerizing. She told us that her character in “Anora” took hold of her like nothing she had ever experienced before.

Will 5th Ave. be the next Champs-Élysées?

New York City has an ambitious new plan to transform Fifth Avenue from a crowded tourist zone into a showcase boulevard with trees, seating areas and wider sidewalks with plenty of room to stroll. A committee of city officials and business leaders, who proposed the plan today, said it would cost more than more than $350 million to complete.

Dinner table topics

• Hugh Grant: The seemingly droll, breezy star is sentimental about his family and utterly serious about his work.
• Home comforts: The fashion world has embraced wearing bedroom slippers outdoors, grime be damned.
• Top of their craft: What does it take to be a great artist? These four talents have answers.
• “An experimental dream”: These tiny worms have helped win at least four Nobel Prizes.

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Cook: When you want to feel cozy, make these pumpkin dumplings.

Watch: Cate Blanchett stars as a lusty, preening stateswoman in “Rumors.”

Read: Our critic recommends three psychological thrillers that will creep you out.

Upgrade: Experts suggest adding these five lesser-known grains to your diet.

Bundle: These are the best throw blankets.

Hunt: Which home in New York’s Hudson Valley would you buy with a $500,000 budget?

Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here.

ONE LAST THING

Get married ‘Bridgerton’ style

Cinched waists were everywhere this month at New York Bridal Fashion Week, where designers showcased their latest takes on wedding attire. One designer credited the corset craze to the Netflix show “Bridgerton,” the 19th-century period piece that kindled widespread interest in romantic styles.

For brides looking for something much more minimalist, crop tops nodded to ’90s chic. Check out the looks.

Have an elegant evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.