Hamas leader Sinwar killed/ Hezbollah Israel conflict/ Gaza war escalation/ Sinwar death Hamas response/ Hezbollah new missiles Israel/ Gaza conflict update/ Newslooks/ JERUSALEM/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hamas confirmed the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar, killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. In response, Hezbollah escalated its involvement, launching new precision-guided missiles and drones into Israel. Both groups vow continued resistance as Israel maintains its offensive in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Hamas Leader Death Quick Looks
- Sinwar Confirmed Dead: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces during a frontline encounter in Gaza.
- Hamas Response: Hostages held by Hamas will not be released until Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.
- Hezbollah’s Escalation: Hezbollah introduced new missiles and drones in attacks on Israel, signaling a more intense phase of the conflict.
- Global Reaction: Iran hailed Sinwar as a martyr, while Israel’s allies and Gaza residents hope for the war’s end.
- Israeli Offensive: Israel continues airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities.
Hamas: Hostages Won’t Be Released until there is a Cease-Fire in Gaza
Deep Look
Hamas officially confirmed the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar on Friday, marking a significant turning point in the ongoing war between Israel and militant groups in Gaza. Sinwar, one of Hamas’s top commanders, was killed by Israeli forces in what appeared to be a chance encounter on the battlefield in Gaza. His death could shift the dynamics of the conflict, especially as Hezbollah in Lebanon has vowed to escalate its attacks on Israel, introducing new precision-guided missiles and drones.
Sinwar’s demise was confirmed by Hamas through a statement that hailed him as a “heroic martyr,” who died in combat rather than retreating from the fight. The statement also referenced a video circulated by the Israeli military, purportedly showing Sinwar’s last moments. In the video, a man, believed to be Sinwar, is seen in a destroyed building, throwing a stick at an approaching Israeli drone before succumbing to his injuries. Photographs from the scene showed a man, thought to be Sinwar, buried in rubble with a severe head wound.
Sinwar’s death, which occurred during frontline clashes on Wednesday, is a significant blow to Hamas’s leadership as Israel continues its military campaign aimed at dismantling the militant group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the killing in a speech on Thursday night, acknowledging that the war with Hamas was far from over. “Our war is not yet ended,” Netanyahu declared, underscoring Israel’s determination to continue its offensive in Gaza.
The death of Sinwar also raised hopes that the conflict might shift towards a resolution. In Israel, families of hostages held by Hamas urged the government to use Sinwar’s death as an opportunity to restart negotiations for their release. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 30 presumed dead, according to Israeli authorities. Ronen Neutra, whose son Omer is among the hostages, expressed hope that the war’s goals had been largely met and that the focus could now shift to securing the release of the captives. “Sinwar, who was described as a major obstacle to a deal, is no longer alive,” Neutra said in a video statement.
Hamas, however, reiterated its stance that the hostages will not be released until Israel halts its military operations in Gaza and fully withdraws. Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas leader based in Qatar, confirmed that the group would not negotiate the return of hostages without a cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal. Al-Hayya, who had been involved in previous cease-fire negotiations, emphasized that “those prisoners will not return to you before the end of the aggression on Gaza and the withdrawal from Gaza.”
As news of Sinwar’s death spread, Iran praised him as a martyr, with its mission to the United Nations issuing a statement likening Sinwar’s battlefield death to the heroism that inspires others to resist Israel. In a sharp contrast, the statement took a jab at former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, noting that Hussein begged for his life when captured, while Sinwar stood and fought on the front lines. Iran has long supported Hamas and Hezbollah in their conflicts with Israel, providing financial, logistical, and military aid.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah, which has steadily increased its involvement since the war began in October 2023, announced that it had introduced new types of missiles and drones in its latest attacks on Israel. A statement from the group detailed recent strikes, including the use of precision-guided missiles and an explosives-laden drone that targeted a military base deep within Israeli territory, killing four soldiers and injuring dozens. Hezbollah also launched the Qader 2 missile toward Tel Aviv’s suburbs earlier in the week, showcasing its growing military capabilities.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Kassem, vowed to continue escalating attacks on Israel, stating that its forces were following pre-established battle plans against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah reported missile and artillery strikes on several Israeli positions overnight and on Friday morning, including heavy barrages against Israeli soldiers and military infrastructure in villages along the border and in the Golan Heights.
In response to the growing threat from Hezbollah, Israel’s military announced that it would deploy additional reserve brigades to the northern front. Israeli forces also reported killing two militants who had crossed into Israeli territory from Jordan, a rare infiltration amid heightened border security following the October 2023 Hamas attacks.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas-led militants breaching Israel’s security fence in a coordinated assault last year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. On October 7, 2023, Hamas forces stormed into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Since then, Israel’s retaliatory strikes and ground operations in Gaza have killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The war has devastated Gaza, displacing about 90% of its 2.3 million residents and causing widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and essential services.
As the war continues, both sides remain locked in an increasingly brutal confrontation, with no clear end in sight. Israel is determined to dismantle Hamas, while Hezbollah’s involvement raises the specter of a broader regional conflict. For now, the killing of Yahya Sinwar may shift the balance, but it is far from certain that it will lead to a cease-fire or the release of hostages, as the fighting shows no signs of abating.
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