TEHRAN – Multiple high-ranking Iranian officials have offered condolences on the martyrdom of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar while emphasizing that the Palestinian fighter’s demise is only the beginning of Israel’s end. 

Israel announced on Thursday that Sinwar had been killed in fighting the previous day. According to Hebrew media, an Israeli tank struck the building where Sinwar was located in southern Gaza. While the reports show he lost his life on the same day from the injuries he sustained during the strike, graphic videos and photographs released by Israeli forces reveal that soldiers fired upon Sinwar's head when they found his dead body. 

Sinwar was murdered ‘by chance’ and not through a targeted assassination, Israeli media reported. The Hamas Resistance group confirmed the Palestinian fighter’s martyrdom on Friday, vowing to continue fighting the regime until the ‘freedom of Palestine’.

Meanwhile, people around the world are recalling previous claims made by Israeli authorities, who had asserted that Sinwar was hiding in an underground tunnel, holding Israeli hostages close to him, and wearing an explosive vest to prevent getting targeted by the regime. 

‘Source of inspiration’

In a message on his personal X account, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said the martyrdom of Palestinian leader Yahya Sinwar will act as an inspiration for future generations of Resistance fighters. 
“Yahya Sinwar did not fear death but sought martyrdom in Gaza. He bravely fought to the very end on the battlefield. His fate - beautifully pictured in his last image - is not a deterrent but a source of inspiration for resistance fighters across the region, Palestinian and non-Palestinian. We, and countless others around the world, salute his selfless struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian people. Martyrs live forever, and the cause for the liberation of Palestine from occupation is more alive than ever,” he stated.

‘Painful and powerful’

In an official statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Sinwar's martyrdom as a loss but asserted its effectiveness in furthering the struggle against Israel.
“The news of the martyrdom of Yahya Sanwar, though painful for all the freedom lovers of the world, especially the heroic people of Palestine, is a clear sign of the unstoppable crimes of the occupying and child-killing Zionist regime. Martyr Sanwar was in the captivity of the cruel Zionist regime for many years during his valuable life and after that, he fought heroically until the last moment of his glorious life and did not give up. His demise will bolster the fight against occupiers,” the president noted. 

‘Israeli propaganda exposed’

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri highlighted in a statement that a year of Israeli propaganda against Hamas and its leaders was exposed by the martyrdom of Sinwar. 
“The martyrdom of Abu Ibrahim, a valiant commander who fought on the front lines against the occupying Zionist regime, serves as a powerful testament to the unwavering spirit of resistance. His sacrifice refutes the false narratives spread by the Zionist and Western media, which claimed that the Hamas leader was hiding in the depths of Gaza's tunnels. He proved that those who embrace the ideals of Islam and martyrdom are not even afraid to face death,” the commander stated. 

‘Future Palestinian leaders fiercer'

Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said future Palestinian leaders and fighters will be even fiercer and more powerful than Yahya Sinwar. 

“From today, the name of Martyr Sinwar stands alongside those of renowned Palestinian fighters like Ahmed Yassin and Ismail Haniyeh, who gave their lives for the liberation of al-Quds al-Sharif. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, and the dream of a free Palestine will continue to burn brightly, even as the enemy crumbles to ashes,” he said, adding “Future Palestinian leaders will lead the ranks of the anti-Zionist resistance with even greater strength and a more robust structure. Hamas will move along more powerfully.”