JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Pledges from Israel and its enemies Hamas and Hezbollah to keep fighting in Gaza and Lebanon dashed hopes on Friday that the death of Palestinian militant leader Yahya Sinwar might hasten an end to more than a year of escalating war in the Middle East.
Iran also said Sinwar's death would only fuel "the spirit of resistance".
Hamas leader Sinwar, a mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the Gaza war, was killed by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his killing a milestone but vowed to keep up the war, which in recent weeks expanded from fighting Hamas in Gaza into an invasion and pursuit of Hezbollah of Lebanon.
Hamas said hostages would only be released with a halt of hostilities in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal and the release of its prisoners. "The martyrdom of our brother, the leader Yahya Sinwar... will only increase the strength and resolve of Hamas and our resistance," it said, confirming his death in combat.
That rhetoric from the warring parties contrasted with Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who said Sinwar's death offered a chance for negotiations.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Sinwar had been refusing talks. "Can’t predict that that means whoever replaces (Sinwar) will agree to a ceasefire, but it does remove what has been in recent months the chief obstacle to getting one," he said.
Israel's government has rejected several attempts by its main ally the US at brokering ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon, pressing on with its wars. Iran has looked largely powerless to match Israel's military might, including US arms.
One senior diplomat working in Lebanon said that hopes Sinwar's death would end the war appeared misplaced.
"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.
The conflict has caused the first direct Iranian-Israeli confrontations, including missile attacks on Israel in April and October 1. Netanyahu has vowed to respond to the October attack, which caused little damage. Washington has pressed Israel to limit targets and not strike Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.
Meanwhile, the United Nations humanitarian office on Friday denounced Israel's use of what it described as "war-like" tactics against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying nine Palestinians had been killed there in a week.
OCHA also voiced concern about Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians and olive trees during the annual October-November harvest, saying it was affecting the economic lifeline of tens of thousands of Palestinian families.
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