Hamas mourns Sinwar, vows no hostage release until war ends
Hamas has announced that it will not release hostages taken during its October 7 attack on Israel until the ongoing Gaza war comes to an end.
This announcement comes as the group mourns the death of Yahya Sinwar, its leader, whose killing was confirmed by the Israeli military on Thursday, October 17.
Sinwar was seen as the mastermind behind the deadliest attack in Israel’s history, which left 1,206 people dead and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
His death marks a significant blow to Hamas, but Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it represents “the beginning of the end” for the group, though the war is far from over.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official based in Qatar, stated in a video message that “no hostages will be released unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its intense airstrikes on Gaza, with reports of civilian casualties, including the deaths of three Palestinian children, as rescuers work to recover bodies from the debris.
The death of Sinwar, Israel’s most wanted man, has been hailed by some as a turning point in the conflict. US President Joe Biden described the event as an “opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas.”
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However, criticism over the civilian toll and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been growing, with the United Nations warning of famine and catastrophic conditions for children.
As the fighting rages on, Hamas’s military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, vowed to continue fighting “until Palestine is liberated.” Sinwar’s death has created a leadership vacuum, with his younger brother, Mohammed Sinwar, rumored to be a potential successor.
However, Middle East analysts believe that Hamas’s next leader may come from the group’s operational ranks.
The situation remains dire in Gaza, with over 42,500 people killed, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Despite the ongoing violence, the death of Sinwar has led to widespread celebrations in Israel, with hopes that it may pave the way for an end to the conflict and the release of the remaining hostages.
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