Hamas Mourns Commander Mahmoud Hamdan and Leader Yahya Sinwar Amid Ongoing Conflict

GAZA CITY: The Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas, announced the deaths of Mahmoud Hamdan, commander of the Tel al-Sultan Battalion in Rafah, and Yahya Sinwar, the head of its political bureau. The organization reported that both were martyred during a military confrontation with Israeli forces. According to Maan News Agency, Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas in Gaza, confirmed the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar on Friday, attributing it to a clash with the Israeli occupation. Al-Hayya delivered a televised speech in which he praised Sinwar's continuous dedication to the cause following his release from prison, describing him as having been inspired by the "great flood of Al-Aqsa." Al-Hayya further emphasized Hamas's ongoing commitment to establishing a Palestinian state across all Palestinian territories, with Jerusalem as its capital. He declared that prisoners of the Israeli occupation would not be returned until hostilities in Gaza ceased, a full withdrawal took place, and Palestinian prisoners wer e freed from incarceration.