Hamas Political Bureau Leader Yahya Sinwar sent a telegram to Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah thanking him for his letter in which he congratulated him on his assumption of the Resistance movement's leadership and offering his and Hezbollah's condolences over the martyrdom of former political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Haniyeh was assassinated by the Israeli occupation during a visit to Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. One week later, Hamas elected Sinwar as leader. 

"We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, received with great appreciation and pride your kind letter of congratulations and condolences for our martyrs and our fellow fighter in Jihad and Resistance, the late leader and freedom fighter Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Political Bureau of the movement, and his companion, brother Wasim Abu Shaaban," the letter read.

"We thank you for your solidarity interwoven with your sincere and noble sentiments, which have been expressed through your blessed actions on the fronts of the Axis of Resistance in terms of support and engagement in the battle. We pray to Allah to bless your efforts and protect you and your country from all harm," the letter added.

Haniyeh, Sinwar said, rose as a martyr amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, "one of the most honorable battles fought by our Palestinian people" to "join the ranks of the martyred leaders, unite with his children and grandchildren, and meet the great sacrifices made by our people in Gaza, the West Bank, al-Quds, and the occupied Palestinian territories."

"This affirms that the blood of our leaders and freedom fighters is not more precious than the blood of our people and that this precious blood and these honorable convoys of martyrs will increase our strength and resilience in confronting the Zionist Nazi occupation," the Hamas leader stressed.

The Resistance faction, he underlined, will "remain steadfast as it always has on the path of loyalty to the blood of the martyrs." 

"The lofty principles advocated by Haniyeh will remain steadfast, guiding our Movement and our Resistance fighters," the letter added, explaining that the said principles include the choice of Resistance in the face of the Israeli occupation and the unity of the Islamic World with the Axis of Resistance in defense of occupied Palestine and the Islamic holy sites, such as the al-Aqsa Mosque "until the occupation is defeated and eradicated from our land and our independent state with full sovereignty and al-Quds as its capital is established."

Sinwar, a mastermind behind October 7

A leader of Hamas in Gaza, Sinwar was a mastermind player in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

A report written by Reuters in December recalls a speech made by Sinwar back in 2022 uncannily foreshadowing the events of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in his choice of wording.

In a speech addressing the Israeli security establishment on December 14 last year, during a popular ceremony in Gaza celebrating the 35th anniversary of Hamas' establishment, Sinwar specifically threatened the Israelis with an impending "flood". 

Deputy chief of the movement's Political Bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, said during a memorial held for the martyred leader Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday that Hamas will remain loyal to the Palestinian people, martyrs, and the Islamic Ummah, by "continuing on the path of struggle, jihad, and resistance," until the liberation of Palestine is achieved. 

The Hamas official praised martyr Haniyeh's life-long work, saying that his martyrdom has "given new spirit, determination, and strength to [the region's people] and their Resistance."