Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, stand in front of a billboard depicting late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as they rally to support Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in Sanaa, Yemen, on October 18, 2024 Was doing. Photo courtesy: Reuters
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah vowed to launch a new phase of fighting against Israel on Friday (Oct 18, 2024), a day after Israel said its forces had killed more people in Gaza. Hamas leader Yahya SinwarThe chief architect of last year’s deadly attack on Israel that sparked a multilateral war.
Israeli hostages in Gaza will not return until the “aggression” on the besieged Palestinian enclave stops and Israeli forces withdraw, Khalil al-Haya, deputy head of Gaza Hamas and the group’s chief negotiator, said on Friday (Oct 18 , 2024) said.
Sinwar’s killing, which appears to have been an accidental front-line encounter with Israeli troops, could change the dynamics of the Gaza war, even as Israel continues to push back against Hezbollah with ground troops in southern Lebanon and airstrikes in other areas of the country. Is carrying forward its aggressive campaign. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israel almost every day since the Israel–Hamas war began.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are supported by Iran, which revered Sinwar as a martyr who could inspire others in challenging Israel.
Israel has pledged to destroy Hamas politically in Gaza, and killing Sinwar was a top military priority.
Photographs taken by Israeli soldiers at the scene showed the body of what appeared to be a man, half buried under debris, with a deep wound to his head.
Hamas on Sinwar’s murder
On Friday (October 18, 2024), one of Hamas’s political leaders abroad said in a statement, referring to Sinwar’s death, that if Israel believes that the assassination of our leaders means the end of our movement and the struggle of the Palestinian people. If yes then it is wrong. ,
Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau who usually lives in Qatar, said, “Hamas became stronger and more popular each time, and these leaders became a symbol for future generations to continue the journey to an independent Palestine.” ”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech announcing the killing Thursday night that “Our war is not over yet.” But many, from the governments of Israel’s allies to exhausted Gaza residents, hoped that Sinwar’s death would pave the way for an end to the war.
In Israel, families of those still held hostage in Gaza have demanded that the Israeli government use Sinwar’s killing as a way to restart negotiations to bring their loved ones home. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 30 of whom Israel says are dead.
Ronen Neutra, the father of Israeli-American hostage Omar Neutra, said in a video statement, “We are at a point where the goals set for the war with Gaza have been achieved, all goals except the release of the hostages have been achieved. Have gone.” “Sinwar, who was said to be a major obstacle to a deal, is no longer alive.”
An Israeli official with knowledge of the talks said Mr Netanyahu was planning to call a special meeting on Friday (October 18, 2024) to discuss hostage talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential information.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a statement in honor of Sinwar, emphasizing that he died on the battlefield, not in hiding, unlike his former enemy Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was hanged in 2006. Was given.
“When American forces pulled the disfigured Saddam Hussein out of an underground pit, he pleaded with them not to kill him, even though he was armed. Those who looked to Saddam as the model of their resistance ultimately collapsed,” the statement said. “However when Muslims see the martyr Sinwar standing on the battlefield – in combat attire and out in the open, not in a hiding place, facing the enemy – the spirit of resistance will be stronger.”
More than 1 million people on both sides were killed during the brutal Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, which began when Hussein launched his invasion of Iran.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah issued a statement on Friday (October 18, 2024) saying its fighters have used a new type of precision-guided missiles and explosive drones against Israel for the first time in recent days.
Hezbollah’s statement appeared to be referring to a drone packed with explosives that dodged Israel’s multilayered air-defense system last Sunday and fell into the mess hall of a military training camp inside Israel, killing four soldiers. And dozens were injured.
The group also announced earlier this week that it had fired a new type of missile, called the Kader 2, toward the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
Fighting continues in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army said it would activate an additional reserve brigade in the north of its country to support troops fighting in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said its fighters were acting according to “pre-prepared plans” to fight attacking Israeli troops in several parts of south Lebanon. It also announced several missile and artillery attacks on Israeli forces operating in villages in the border area of southern Lebanon overnight and on Friday morning.
published – October 18, 2024 06:04 PM IST