A senior Hamas official described Sinwar as the architect of the October 7 attack, stressing that his appointment was intended as a bold message of defiance against Israel.
Since July, ceasefire talks have been deadlocked, and many believe Sinwar’s leadership has become a serious obstacle to them.
Despite Sinwar’s killing, a senior Hamas official reiterated to the BBC that the terms of the ceasefire and movement for the release of Israeli hostages have not changed.
Hamas continues to demand Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, an end to hostilities, transfer of humanitarian aid and reconstruction of the war-torn territory, demands that Israel flatly rejects and insists that Hamas surrender.
When asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for Hamas to give up its arms and surrender, movement officials responded: “It is impossible for us to surrender.
“We are fighting for the freedom of our people and we will not accept surrender. We will fight until the last bullet and the last soldier, just like Sinwar did.”
Sinwar’s assassination was one of the most serious losses to the organization in decades. But despite the difficulties of replacing him, Hamas has a history of enduring leadership losses since the 1990s.
Although Israel has succeeded in killing most of Hamas’ leaders and founders, the Hamas movement has proven resilient in its ability to find new leaders.
Despite this crisis, questions remain about the fate of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and who will be responsible for their safety and protection.
In this context, Yahya Sinwar’s brother Mohammed Sinwar emerged as a pivotal figure. He is believed to be leading the remaining armed wing of Hamas and could play a key role in shaping the future of the movement in Gaza.
As Hamas navigates this critical moment, the war in Gaza continues.
Dozens of people were killed in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Saturday as Israeli forces stepped up attacks in response to Hamas’ attempts to rally.
