عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Hamas Confirms Death of Leader Yahya Sinwar

Yahya Sinwar, Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, waves to Palestinians during a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo
Yahya Sinwar, Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, waves to Palestinians during a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo
TT
TT

Hamas Confirms Death of Leader Yahya Sinwar

Yahya Sinwar, Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, waves to Palestinians during a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo
Yahya Sinwar, Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, waves to Palestinians during a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo

Hamas on Friday confirmed its leader Yahya Sinwar had been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, a day after Israel announced his death.

"We mourn the great leader, the martyred brother, Yahya Sinwar, Abu Ibrahim," Qatar-based Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said in a recorded video statement broadcast by Al Jazeera, AFP reported.

Sinwar became Israel's most wanted man after the October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.

In his statement, Hayya said Hamas would not release the hostages it seized from Israel during the attack until the war in Gaza ends.

The hostages "will not return... unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops," the senior Hamas official said, as he called on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Hayya said the group would take strength from Sinwar's killing, which he said has set him among "the leaders and symbols of the movement who preceded him".

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Italy’s PM in Beirut, Says Europe Wants a ‘Sustainable Ceasefire’ in Gaza and Lebanon

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) following a joint press conference at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 18 October 2024. (EPA)
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) following a joint press conference at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 18 October 2024. (EPA)
TT
TT

Italy’s PM in Beirut, Says Europe Wants a ‘Sustainable Ceasefire’ in Gaza and Lebanon

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) following a joint press conference at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 18 October 2024. (EPA)
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) following a joint press conference at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 18 October 2024. (EPA)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said European countries are working for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Speaking in Beirut after meeting Friday with her Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati, Meloni said European nations also support negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October last year.

Mikati said “a diplomatic solution should overcome” war that has intensified in recent weeks into an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, and that Israel must agree to a ceasefire.

Meloni added that targeting UN peacekeepers deployed along the Lebanon-Israel border is unacceptable and that both sides must “ensure at all times the safety of each of these soldiers.” She stressed that the peacekeepers will be needed in any post-conflict scenario.

Over the past two weeks, UN posts along the border have been subjected to fire that that has wounded at least five peacekeepers.

Meloni said the peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, must be strengthened and that UNIFIL and Lebanese troops should be the only armed forces in the area south of the Litani river along the border with Israel.

According to a 2006 UN Security Council resolution that ended the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006, Hezbollah should have no presence in the area along the border with Israel.