Hamas, a Palestinian militant group has confirmed on Friday, October 18th that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, a day after Israel announced his death.
Speaking on the incident, a Qatar-based Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in a recorded video statement broadcast said: “We mourn the great leader, the martyred brother, Yahya Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim.”
According to reports, Hamas Leader Sinwar became Israel’s most wanted man following the October 7, 2023 attack, which has been recognized as the deadliest in Israel’s history.
Hayya declared in his statement that Hamas would not release the hostages it had seized from Israel during the attack until the war in Gaza has ended.
The senior Hamas official reiterated that the hostages “will not return… unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops,” while urging Israel to withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners held in the Israeli jail.
Hayya also highlighted that Sinwar’s killing would only strengthen the group’s resolve, setting him among “the leaders and symbols of the movement who preceded him.”
