Group says captives held in Gaza will not return until Israel stops its attacks on Gaza and withdraws its forces.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed in combat in Gaza with the Israeli military, the Palestinian group confirmed.
Khalil Hayya, the head of Hamas in Gaza, said in a televised address on Friday that the 62-year-old leader was “steadfast, brave and intrepid” and “sacrificed his life to the cause of our liberation.”
“He met his end standing brave, with his head held high, holding his firearm, firing until the last breath, until the last moment of his life,” he told the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV.
“Since his early days, he was engaged in his struggle as a resistant fighter. He stood defiant behind Israeli bars and after his release in a swapped deal, he continued with his struggle and his dedication to the cause.”
Hayya added that Sinwar’s “martyrdom” and leaders who preceded him “will only increase the strength and resilience of our movement.”
