Hamas has confirmed its leader, Yahya Sinwar, has been killed by Israeli soldiers, vowing not to free Israeli captives until the Gaza war is ended.

Khalil al-Hayya, Mr Sinwar’s deputy who lives in exile in Qatar, on Friday, said the death of the Hamas leader would not change their position.

“We are continuing Hamas’s path,” Mr al-Hayya said in Hamas’ first statement after the death of Mr Sinwar, adding that the “banner will not fall.”

Mr al-Hayya further insisted Hamas would not release Israeli hostages until Israel withdraws from Gaza and free Palestinians held hostage.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the killing of Mr Sinwar will not end the ongoing war in Gaza.

“Yahya Sinwar is dead,” Mr Netanyahu declared in a statement on X on Friday morning. “He was killed in Rafah by the brave soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces.”

He added, “While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it’s the beginning of the end.”

Mr Sinwar’s death comes as another episode in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.  

The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that Mr Sinwar, one of the masterminds of the October 7, 2023 attack that left over 1,000 dead in Israel, was killed in a firefight between Israeli soldiers and Hamas forces.

Mr Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas in August, shortly after Hamas’ former leader, Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran on July 31.

Before his appointment, Mr Sinwar was a prominent figure within Hamas, having joined the organisation in the 1980s and serving as its leader in Gaza since 2017.