Hamas confirms Yahya Sinwar’s death and says it will strengthen his movement

Oct. 18 (UPI) — Hamas confirmed the death of leader Yahya Sinwar on Friday in a video statement by senior Hamas official Khalil

Al-Hayya said Sinwar’s death, during an Israeli ground operation in Gaza, would not deter Hamas.

“The martyrdom of our leader Sinwar and those before him will only strengthen our movement,” Al-Hayya said in his video statement on Friday.

Hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel will not be released until the war in Gaza ends and Israel completely withdraws its troops from the Gaza Strip, according to Al-Hayya.

“Hamas is moving forward to establish the Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory with Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

Israel said Friday it is sending more troops to northern Gaza to support other military units conducting operations in Jabalia, the largest of eight Palestinian refugee camps that have existed in Gaza for decades.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a video statement: “Our war is with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza. And we mean it. We are working to increase the amount of humanitarian aid, including food, water and medicine, going to the Gaza Strip. to Gaza.”

He added: “To the people of Gaza who are suffering under Yahya Sinwar, our thoughts today are with the families of those who were killed or kidnapped because of Sinwar.”

Hagari said Israel will continue to operate in Gaza “until we complete all our missions.”

Al-Hayya said Hamas will continue to fight to realize the aspirations of the Palestinian people and said Sinwar’s death will strengthen the Hamas movement.

President Biden said in a statement that Sinwar’s death was good for the world, Israel and the United States.

He said Sinwar was a terrorist responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans and citizens from more than 50 countries.

“There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that offers a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians,” Biden’s statement said. “Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all these goals. That obstacle no longer exists.”