Politics Iran: Fight against Israel continues even after Sinwar's death

According to Iran's religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the death of the leader of the Islamist Hamas, Jihia al-Sinwar, will not stop the fight against arch-enemy Israel. "His death is painful, but the axis of resistance (against Israel) will live on and continue the fight," explained Khamenei. Sinwar was a dazzling personality of the resistance, "who has now ascended to the heaven of martyrs".

Sinwar is considered the mastermind behind the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead. The terrorist attack triggered the Gaza War.

After his predecessor Ismail Hanija and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Sinwar is the third high-ranking Islamist leader to be killed in just a few months. Israel's military killed Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, Nasrallah in Lebanon - and the killing of Hanija in the Iranian capital Tehran is also attributed to Israel. Experts see the targeted killings as a bitter setback for Iran, which is closely allied with both Islamist groups.