Hamas confirms death of leader Yahya Sinwar

The Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed on Friday that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, a day after Israel announced his death.

“We mourn the great leader, the martyred brother, Yahya Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim,” said Qatar-based Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in a recorded video statement broadcast by Al Jazeera.

Sinwar became Israel’s most wanted man following the October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history.

In his statement, Hayya declared that Hamas would not release the hostages it had seized from Israel during the attack until the war in Gaza ended.

The hostages “will not return… unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops,” said the senior Hamas official, urging Israel to withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Hayya also stated that Sinwar’s killing would only strengthen the group’s resolve, setting him among “the leaders and symbols of the movement who preceded him.”

AFP