Hamas on Friday confirmed the death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar, with Khalil Al-Hayya, one of its senior officials, saying the death will only strengthen the group.

In a video statement published on Friday, Al-Hayya, deputy Gaza Hamas chief and the group's chief negotiator, said Sinwar died in combat, and his death will turn into a curse on "the occupiers."

The Israeli military stated on Thursday that Sinwar was killed in an operation in southern Gaza. 

Sinwar, also the architect of the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel, succeeded Ismail Haniyeh as the leader of Hamas after the latter was assassinated in a suspected Israeli strike in Tehran in late July.

Israeli hostages in Gaza will not return until "the aggression" on the besieged Palestinian enclave stops and Israeli forces withdraw, Al-Hayya said on Friday, adding that Hamas is continuing its path until achieving Palestinian people's ambitions.

(With input from agencies)