The Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed on Friday that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, following Israel’s announcement of his death the previous day.
In a recorded video statement broadcast by Al Jazeera, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya expressed mourning for “the great leader, the martyred brother, Yahya Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim.”
Read Also: IDF Releases Edited Drone Footage Showing Yahya Sinwar In His Final Moments Holding A Piece Of Wood Before Throwing It Towards The Drone [VIDEO]
Sinwar had become Israel’s most wanted man after the October 7, 2023 attack, which was the deadliest in Israel’s history.
Hayya stated that Hamas would not release the hostages taken during the attack until the war in Gaza concluded. He emphasized that the hostages “will not return… unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops,” calling for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Additionally, Hayya asserted that Sinwar’s death would only reinforce Hamas’s determination, placing him among “the leaders and symbols of the movement who preceded him