Live Updates: Israel kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, vows to continue war in Gaza

Hamas confirmed the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar in a video statement by senior official Khalil Al Hayya, who served as the militant group’s chief negotiator in talks on a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a deal to release hostages.

In a televised address, Al Hayya said Hamas would not release Israeli hostages until “aggression against our people in Gaza ceases,” Israel fully withdraws from the enclave and Palestinian prisoners in Israel are released.

Here’s what else you should know:

More details come to light: The chief pathologist who autopsied Sinwar’s body told CNN that the Hamas leader was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Israel Defense Forces had previously said nothing about its troops firing a fatal shot. Asked for comment, an IDF spokesman told CNN that there was an exchange of fire and that the fight ended with Israel firing a tank shell at the building. The IDF is still working to find out all the details, the spokesman added. The pathologist further told CNN that when Israeli forces found a body similar to Sinwar’s on Wednesday, his finger was cut off and sent for a DNA test to identify him.

US reaction so far: US President Joe Biden said ending the conflict in the Middle East would be difficult even after Sinwar’s death. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US could “quite possibly” play a role in stabilization efforts in Gaza after the end of the war with Israel, adding that this would have to be defined together with allies in the region.

Blockade of medical organizations: The World Health Organization has accused Israel of denying entry to Gaza to several medical organizations. This is the first time that entire health authorities have been denied access to the enclave during the more than year-long war. Professionals denied entry were expected to join “already overburdened” staff in carrying out medical treatments, including surgeries, at overstretched facilities such as the Nasser Medical Complex and European Hospital in southern Gaza and Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza according to the WHO. COGAT, the Israeli agency that coordinates the inspection and delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, has denied the allegations.

Gaza’s strained health system: Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, is overwhelmed by the volume of incoming patients, staff are fatigued and running low on medical supplies and food, the director said. “This is a catastrophic situation by any measure,” said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya in a video message to CNN. “From yesterday to today, no one slept.” In addition, the hospital is struggling with the number of premature babies, as pregnant women are burdened by the heavy bombing in northern Gaza, he added.

Israel continues its operations in Lebanon: Israel has issued an evacuation notice to residents of 23 villages in southern Lebanon, urging them to move north. Some of the villages named in Friday’s announcement had already been named in previous warnings. On Tuesday, the Middle East director of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that about a fifth of Lebanon’s population had fled their homes and about a quarter of the country was under Israeli military evacuation orders. Israel also called up “an additional reserve brigade for operational operations” in northern Israel against Hezbollah, the IDF said.