Palestinians inspect the targeted area on the tents housing displaced civilians after Israeli attacks in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al Balah, Gaza. Photo by Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images.
Hamas confirmed Friday that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and reiterated its stance that hostages the militant group took from Israel a year ago will not be released until there is a ceasefire in Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The group’s staunch position pushed back against a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier that his country’s military will keep fighting until the hostages are released and will remain in Gaza to prevent a severely weakened Hamas from rearming.
