Hamas announced on Friday that it will not release the hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel until the conflict in Gaza is over, following the death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar. The Palestinian organization confirmed Sinwar’s death, which had been announced by Israel a day earlier.
In a video statement broadcast by Al Jazeera, Khalil Al Hayya, a Hamas official based in Qatar, expressed mourning for Sinwar, referring to him as a “great leader and martyred brother.”
A significant blow
Sinwar, who was declared Israel’s top target after the deadly October 7 attack, was seen as a key figure directing the Palestinian side of the conflict. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described Sinwar’s death as a significant blow to Hamas, with Israeli forces having engaged in combat in Gaza for over a year.
Hayya also reiterated that Hamas would not release the captives until the fighting in Gaza concludes, adding that the hostages would not be returned unless the aggression against Gaza ceases. He urged Israel to withdraw from the territory and release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The next leader of Hamas?
According to Hayya, Sinwar’s death would serve as motivation for the group, elevating him among past leaders of Hamas.
Sinwar had been directing operations in Gaza and was appointed the group’s overall leader in August, after the previous political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran on July 31. Since the October 7 attack, Sinwar had not appeared in public, with Israeli commanders suspecting he had been hiding in a network of tunnels built by Hamas under Gaza.
Hamas and Hezbollah praise Sinwar
Both Hamas and Hezbollah praised Sinwar as a martyr, noting his potential to inspire further resistance against Israel. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, commented on social media that Sinwar’s sacrifice would continue to fuel the cause for Palestinian liberation, stating that “martyrs live forever.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remarked that Sinwar’s death could create an opportunity to establish a lasting ceasefire. He also suggested that regional actors might play a role in stabilizing Gaza, expressing hope for greater involvement from neighboring countries during a NATO meeting in Brussels.
Read More: Did You Know, In 2011 Israel Released Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar In A Deal
