The Palestinian extremist group Hamas on Friday confirmed the death of its leader Yehya al-Sinwar, who is considered to be the mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel that sparked ongoing violence in the Middle East.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas’ political wing, told Hamas-run Al-Aqsa broadcaster that he was mourning the death of “martyr” al-Sinwar, a day after Israel announced his execution in southern Gaza. .
However, hopes that al-Sinwar’s death could lead to an immediate ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas faded as fighting continued in Lebanon and Gaza on Friday.
Al-Hayya said the remaining hostages – believed to be around 101, although not all are still alive – will only be returned if Israel ends the “violence” by withdrawing from Gaza and releasing Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters vowed to increase their attacks on Israel in southern Lebanon, weeks after Israeli forces launched an offensive in the area.
The group said in a statement that it was announcing “the transition to a new and growing phase of confronting Israel’s enemy, which will be reflected in the events and activities of the coming days.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said at least 15 projectiles were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, triggering air raid sirens in many areas.
During the past day, the IDF said it hit about 150 targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
The latest events come more than a year since the October 7 attack ordered by al-Sinwar, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage to Gaza.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, but Israeli forces have failed to locate al-Sinwar, who was not found until this week.
Late Thursday, the IDF released a video showing what it said were al-Sinwar’s final moments.
This video, recorded by an airplane, shows a man sitting in a bombed-out building, covered in dust and debris. As the plane approaches, it throws a stick at the remote control plane.
Shortly after the drone footage was taken, the military said al-Sinwar was killed in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al-Sinwar has been Hamas’s top commander in Gaza since 2017, before he was named the terrorist group’s leader earlier this year following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
It is not clear who will replace him, since the number of leading people killed by Israel last year.
Lebanon condemns Iran’s interference
Separately on Friday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly criticized Iran for trying to interfere in his country’s affairs.
He ordered Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib to summon Iran’s deputy ambassador, according to a report by the Lebanese news agency NNA.
Mikati was referring to the statement of the Speaker of the House of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who had given talks between Tehran and Paris regarding the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed to end the previous war in Lebanon in 2006.
The decision stipulated that Israel and Hezbollah should withdraw from the area in southern Lebanon between the Litani River and the Israeli border.
It also called for Hezbollah and others to disarm, and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a peacekeeping mission to monitor the area.
“We are surprised by this action, which represents interference in the affairs of Lebanon and attempts to establish a guard in a way that is not acceptable in Lebanon,” said Mikati.
The Beirut government is working with all of Lebanon’s friends, including France, to push Israel to stop fighting, he said.
“The issue of negotiations to implement International Resolution 1701 is done by the country of Lebanon, and everyone needs to support us in this, not to want to impose a new mandate that is prohibited by all national and sovereign considerations,” said Mikati.
For years, Iran has had a major influence on the politics and public life of Lebanon through Hezbollah, which has established a state within the region.
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