Pledges from Israel and its adversaries Hamas and Hezbollah to continue fighting in Gaza and Lebanon have dashed hopes that the death of Palestinian militant leader Yahya Sinwar could hasten an end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Israel's main rival and the militants' primary supporter, Iran, stated that Sinwar's death would only "fuel the spirit of resistance."
Sinwar, who was a mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the current Gaza war, was killed by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday.
Video footage captured him throwing a stick at a drone as he sat dying.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Sinwar's killing as a significant milestone but vowed to persist with the war, which has recently expanded beyond Gaza into a military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"The war, my dear ones, is not yet over," Netanyahu told Israelis late on Thursday, insisting that fighting would continue until hostages held by Hamas are released.
He referred to this moment as a "great opportunity to stop the axis of evil," targeting Iran and its militant allies across the region, including those in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Hamas responded by stating that hostages would only be released if there was a halt to hostilities in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal, and the release of their prisoners.
"The martyrdom of our brother, the leader Yahya Sinwar ... will only increase the strength and resolve of Hamas and our resistance," the group affirmed, confirming his death.
This rhetoric from the warring factions starkly contrasted with the views of Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, who suggested that Sinwar's death could open up opportunities for negotiations.
Washington indicated that Sinwar had been obstructing talks prior to his death.
The Israeli government has dismissed multiple attempts by the United States, its chief ally, to broker ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon.
A senior diplomat in Lebanon commented that hopes that Sinwar's death would conclude the conflict seemed misguided.
"We had hoped, really throughout this, that getting rid of Sinwar would be the turning point where the wars would end ... where everyone would be ready to put their weapons down. It appears we were once again mistaken," the diplomat said.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed concerns that the war might worsen, stating, "Unfortunately, we are on the verge of a comprehensive regional war."
He added that international mediators, including Egypt, had nearly reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, but Israel lacked the political will to finalize it.
Families of Israeli hostages noted that while Sinwar's killing was a significant achievement, it would not feel complete as long as captives remained in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has led to direct confrontations between Iran and Israel, including missile attacks on Israel in April and again on October 1.
Netanyahu has promised to respond to the October missile attacks, although Washington has urged caution in striking Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.
During a visit to Berlin on Friday, Biden mentioned that there could be potential for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but it would be more challenging in Gaza.
He also indicated that he understood how and when Israel would respond to the Iranian missile attacks, but he did not provide further details.
Sinwar, Hamas' overall leader after the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, was believed to be hiding in Hamas' network of tunnels in Gaza.
He was killed during a gun battle on Wednesday by Israeli troops, who were initially unaware that they had captured their primary target.
The Israeli military released drone footage showing Sinwar, seated and covered in dust inside a destroyed building, as he desperately threw a stick while being tracked.
The October 7 attacks that he orchestrated resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
In retaliation, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza, based on reports from Palestinian officials, leading to widespread devastation, homelessness, and hunger among Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
Hezbollah began launching rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas on October 8, making it a target for Israel's intensifying military campaign, which has claimed over 2,000 lives and displaced 1.2 million in Lebanon.
Israel has targeted several top Hamas leaders and has significantly weakened Hezbollah's leadership through airstrikes in recent weeks.
The deaths of these leaders have dealt a substantial blow to what anti-Israeli forces refer to as the Axis of Resistance, a coalition of militant groups backed by Iran across the region.
Experts predict that Hamas may replace Sinwar with a new political leader located outside Gaza while his brother Mohammad Sinwar is likely to take on a more significant role in directing the ongoing conflict against Israel.
