Hamas said hostages would be released only after a halt of hostilities in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal and the release of its prisoners.
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“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.
That rhetoric from the warring parties contrasted with Western leaders who said Sinwar’s death offered a chance for negotiations. Sinwar had been refusing talks, Washington said.
Israel’s government has rejected several attempts by the United States, its main ally, at brokering ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon.
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.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he feared the war was only going to get worse.
Families of Israeli hostages said that while the killing of Sinwar was an achievement, it would not be complete while captives were still in Gaza.
The conflict has caused direct Iranian-Israeli confrontations, including missile attacks on Israel in April and earlier this month.
Netanyahu has vowed to respond to the October attack, though Washington has pressed it not to strike Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.
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Biden, on a visit to Berlin on Friday, said there was a possibility of working towards a ceasefire in Lebanon but it would be harder in Gaza. He also told reporters he had an understanding of how and when Israel would respond to the missile attacks by Iran. He declined to elaborate.
“I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday, let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas,” Biden said.
Sinwar masterminded last year’s October 7 attacks in Israel, which killed some 1200 people, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has killed more than 42,000 people, according to Palestinian officials, as well as displacing most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.
Hezbollah, which began firing rockets at Israel on October 8, is the target of Israel’s intensifying assault on Lebanon, which has killed more than 2000 people and displaced 1.2 million.
Israel has now killed several of Hamas’ top leaders and in a matter of weeks decapitated the Hezbollah leadership, mainly through air strikes.
The killings have dealt a blow to the proxy militant groups that Iran has spent decades supporting across the region.
Experts said the Palestinian militant group was likely to replace Sinwar with a new political leader based outside Gaza, while his brother Mohammad Sinwar was expected to assume a bigger role directing the war against Israel.
AP, Reuters
