Pledges from Israel and its enemies Hamas and Hezbollah to keep fighting in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon have dashed hopes that the might hasten an end to more than a year of escalating war in the Middle East.
The militant groups’ main backer Iran also said Sinwar’s death would only fuel “the spirit of resistance”.
Hamas leader Sinwar — allegedly the main architect of that triggered the Gaza war — a significant escalation in a long-standing conflict between Hamas and Israel — was killed by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his killing a milestone but vowed to keep up the war, which in recent weeks expanded from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip into an invasion and pursuit of Hezbollah of Lebanon.
“The war, my dear ones, is not yet over,” Netanyahu told Israelis late on Thursday, saying fighting would continue until
“We have before us a great opportunity to stop the axis of evil,” he added, referring to Iran and its militant allies across the region in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Hamas confirms Sinwar’s death
Hamas said its hostages would only be released with a halt of hostilities in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal and the release of its prisoners.
“The martyrdom of our brother, the leader Yahya Sinwar … will only increase the strength and resolve of Hamas and our resistance,” it said, confirming his death in combat.
That rhetoric from the warring parties contrasted with some leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who said Sinwar’s death offered a chance for negotiations.
Prime Minister as he renewed calls for the return of hostages, humanitarian support and a ceasefire.
Israel’s government has rejected several attempts by its main ally the US at brokering ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon, pressing on with its wars.
Iran has looked largely powerless to match Israel’s military might, including US arms, even as
One senior diplomat working in Lebanon told Reuters that hopes Sinwar’s death would end the war appeared misplaced.
“We had hoped, really throughout this, that getting rid of Sinwar would be the turning point where the wars would end … where everyone would be ready to put their weapons down. It appears we were once again mistaken,” the diplomat said.
Israeli strikes reportedly kill 39 Palestinians on Friday
At least 33 people were killed and 85 wounded in Israeli strikes that hit several houses on Friday in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps, medics said, where residents said tanks blew up roads and houses.
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said the death toll from the strikes could rise because some people were believed to be trapped under the rubble, and the Palestinian official news agency WAFA said children were among those killed.
There was no immediate Israeli comment.
Other Israeli strikes killed at least 39 Palestinians across Gaza on Friday, 20 of them in Jabalia, the Gaza health ministry said.
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
They said the Israeli army was destroying dozens of houses daily, from the air and the ground, and by placing bombs in buildings then detonating them remotely.
The Israeli military said its forces, which have been operating in Jabalia for the past two weeks, killed dozens of militants in close-quarters combat on Thursday, carried out aerial strikes, and dismantled military infrastructure.
This is ‘how heroes die’
Sinwar, Hamas’ overall leader following the , was believed to have been hiding in the warren of tunnels Hamas has built under the Gaza Strip.
He was killed during a gun battle on Wednesday by Israeli troops initially unaware they had caught their number one enemy, Israeli officials said.
The military released a drone video of a figure it said was Sinwar sitting masked and wounded on an armchair and covered in dust in a shell-smashed apartment trying to hurl a stick at an Israeli drone.
The video inspired pride among some Palestinians.
For one Gazan father, Yahya Sinwar’s death in battle trying to beat back a drone with a stick was “how heroes die.”
For others, it was an example for future generations even as some lamented
“He died a hero, attacking not fleeing, clutching his rifle, and engaging against the occupation army at the front line,” a Hamas statement mourning Sinwar’s death said.
“He died wearing a military vest, fighting with a rifle and grenades, and when he was wounded and was bleeding he fought with a stick. This is how heroes die,” said Adel Rajab, 60, a father of two in Gaza.
“I have watched the video 30 times since last night, there is no better way to die,” said Ali, a 30-year-old taxi driver in Gaza.
“I will make this video a daily duty to watch for my sons, and my grandsons in the future,” said the father of two.
SBS News is not suggesting that these views are representative of all Gazans.
Iran says ‘spirit of resistance will be strengthened’
The Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has subsequently killed more than 42,000 people, according to Palestinian officials.
Its offensive has made most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people homeless, maimed tens of thousands, caused widespread hunger and destroyed hospitals and schools.
Hezbollah, which began firing rockets at Israel in support of its Hamas ally on October 8, is the target of Israel’s intensifying assault on Lebanon, which has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced 1.2 million.
Israel has killed several of Hamas’ top leaders and in a matter of weeks decapitated the Hezbollah leadership, mainly through airstrikes.
The killings have dealt a blow to what anti-Israeli forces call the Axis of Resistance: a group of proxy militant groups that Iran has spent decades supporting across the region.
Iran showed no sign Sinwar’s killing would shift its support.
“The spirit of resistance will be strengthened,” its mission to the United Nations said.
Hezbollah was also defiant, announcing “the transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel”.
Families of Israeli hostages said that while the killing of Sinwar was an achievement, it would not be complete while captives are still in Gaza.
