Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Believes Hamas Will Not Suspend Activity After Sinwar's Death

07:29, 20 October 2024

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - The murder of Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar will not be a reason for the Palestinian movement to cease its activities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi believes.

Sputnik

The Iranian top diplomat believes that the event will only boost the cohesion of the Palestinian movement.

"Sinwar's death will not stop Hamas' activities, but will only strengthen the movement's determination and motivate Palestinian youth," Araghchi said in an interview with the Turkish broadcaster NTV.

He emphasized that there was a risk of conflict in many countries in the region, including Syria.

"Israel is not capable of existing without US assistance, is not capable of committing crimes in Gaza and Lebanon without the United States. All the weapons used there are from the US. If Washington had real political will, they would be able to stop the attacks and stop Israel. For us, the US is an ally of the Zionists. If a large-scale war breaks out in the region, the US will be drawn into it, we do not want this at all. The war may spread to the Gulf countries. But I am sure that there is still a chance for diplomacy; we cannot leave everything to the will of one person in the Zionist regime," Araghchi noted.

Israel-Palestine Escalation

Hamas Leader Engaged in Fighting in Rafah for 18 Days Before His Death, Media Reports

19 October, 19:09

Sinwar was killed by a gunshot wound to the head, CNN reported earlier, citing pathologist Chen Kugel, who conducted the autopsy on the head of the Hamas politburo. Earlier, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), reserve Maj. Anna Ukolova, told Sputnik that Sinwar had been killed by tank fire, before which he was forced to move, as a shootout began after he was discovered by the Israeli military.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially announced that Sinwar, considered the main instigator and organizer of the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, had been killed in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. According to the military, Sinwar was killed on October 16. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said that US intelligence had helped Israel track down the Hamas leader. US Vice President Kamala Harris said that American special forces also helped track Sinwar. On Friday, Hamas acknowledged the death of the head of the movement's political bureau.