Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed while fighting the invading Israeli army in Gaza, a senior leader of the Palestinian movement confirmed on Friday. 

Khalil al-Hayya, chief of Hamas’ Gaza branch, said during a televised address that Sinwar died in combat. 

“Sinwar ascended [to heaven] advancing and not retreating, engaging in the frontlines, moving between combat positions,” Hayya said. 

Hayya, who is based in Qatar, mourned the “martyrdom” of Sinwar and said his death would boost the group’s determination to fight Israel until the establishment of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

“The death of our leader Sinwar and those [killed] before him will only increase the strength and resolve of our group,” he said.

“We continue on the path of Hamas and the spirit of the Al-Aqsa Flood,” he added, referring to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October last year.

“Our banner will not fall but will remain raised high.”

Israeli captives held in Gaza will not return without a ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal and the release of Palestinian prisoners, Hayya said. 

Israel’s government and military both confirmed on Thursday that Sinwar was killed in Gaza in a gunfight during an Israeli operation in the southern city of Rafah a day earlier. 

In a video address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killing of the Hamas leader was not the end of his war on Gaza, and that his military would continue fighting until Israeli captives were returned.

“Today evil has been dealt a blow but our task has still not been completed,” Netanyahu said.

In his statement, he also framed the current conflict as a regional war. Israel recently invaded Lebanon and has been fighting against the Hezbollah movement while also conducting air strikes against the Houthi movement inside Yemen.

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