Israel steadfast in refusal to return Sinwar's remains

Israel will not release the remains of Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas who was killed in October 2024, reported the New Arab portal. The Palestinians had hoped to recover his body as part of negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas demanded the release of Sinwar's remains as part of the first phase of a future agreement with Israel.

Israel will not hand over the body of arch-terrorist Sinwar to Hamas as part of the deal, reported Al Arabiya/Al Hadath, quoting sources familiar with the talks' details.

Sinwar, who died in the Gaza Strip in the autumn of the previous year, was the leader of Hamas structures in that territory, and since August 2024, had served as the leader of the entire group. He was considered one of the main organisers of the bloody attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and 251 being taken hostage. This attack started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Sinwar was killed after a "year-long chase", during which he hid behind Gazan civilians, both on the surface and underground, according to a communication from the Israeli army, quoted by the Polish Press Agency.

The Palestinian militant spent over 20 years in an Israeli prison, where he was serving a life sentence for killing two Israelis and four Palestinians. In 2011, he was exchanged along with 1,025 Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Following Sinwar's death, President Joe Biden stated that his removal could pave the way for a Gaza Strip free from Hamas governance and open the door to a political resolution of the conflict.