Hamas Mourns Leader Sinwar: No Deal unless “Israel” Withdraws from Gaza, Releases Palestinian Detainees

By Staff, Agencies

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been martyred in an “Israeli” airstrike in Gaza's Rafah city, a senior Hamas official confirmed.

Khalil Hayya, head of Hamas in Gaza, delivered a statement on Friday, a day after reports of Sinwar's martyrdom.

"We mourn the great national leader, the Mujahid Martyr Brother Yahya Al-Sinwar [Abu Ibrahim], Head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas] and Commander of Al-Aqsa Flood Operation," he said.

He remembered Sinwar as "one of the noblest and bravest men, a man who dedicated his life to Palestine and gave his soul for the sake of Allah on the path to its liberation."

"He rose as a heroic martyr, advancing and never retreating, wielding his weapon, engaging and confronting the occupation army at the frontlines. He moved between all combat positions, steadfast and stationed on the honored land of Gaza, defending the land of Palestine and its holy sites, inspiring the spirit of endurance, patience, steadfastness, and resistance."

Referring to the history of Sinwar's struggle against the “Israeli” entity, Hayya noted that the fallen leader "attained the highest rank and the noblest medal, ascending as a witness and a martyr, content with the jihad and sacrifice he offered."

Naming a host of other resistance leaders assassinated by the “Israeli” entity in the past years, the Hamas official noted that "these sacrifices will continue to illuminate our path and drive us to more resilience and steadfastness."

"Hamas remains committed to the promise of its founding leaders and martyrs until the aspirations of our people are fully realized: the complete liberation and return, and the establishment of the Palestinian state on the entire national soil with Al-Quds as its capital, by Allah’s will," he said, adding, "This will become a curse upon the invading occupiers who are strangers to this land."

He underlined that the martyrdom of leaders "only strengthens Hamas and our resistance, making us more determined and steadfast in following their path, honoring their blood and sacrifices."

The Hamas official further vowed that “Israeli” captives held in Gaza "will not return except with the cessation of aggression on Gaza, its withdrawal, and the release of our heroic detainees from the occupation’s jails."

Sinwar, 62, played an instrumental role in coordinating and supervising the landmark operation that jolted the Zionist entity.

Before becoming the Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017, Sinwar spent 22 years in an “Israeli” prison. He was released as part of a prisoner swap in 2011.

“Hamas will never abandon the path of resistance… Our resistance will continue until the liberation of all of Palestine,” he declared during a speech in Gaza in late October 2017.

Sinwar had been chosen as the overall Hamas leader after “Israel” assassinated Ismail Haniyeh in July.