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SLAIN terror boss Yahya Sinwar is feared to have left a chilling message ordering Hamas fighters to continue the doomed war should he die.
Experts fear that Sinwar - who was swiftly killed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) inside Gaza last week - may have demanded the execution of the remaining hostages after his death.
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The Hamas boss in Gaza was the chief orchestrator of the tragic October 7 attacks that killed some 1.200 innocent civilians - while 250 people were taken hostage in Gaza.
He was at the very top of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) kill list for over a year.
And fearing his own death, experts claim that Snwar - who has long rejected ceasefire deals - may have instructed remaining Hamas men to carry on the war.
It is also feared that he may have advised Hamas political leaders outside Gaza to avoid any concessions during peace talks, Arab sources familiar with the situation told The Wall Street Journal.
Following Sinwar's death last week, the terror outfit rejected Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to surrender and let go of all the hostages - a possible sign of Sinwar's terror message being followed.
Sources have also revealed that Sinwar's final message was to appoint a new leadership for Hamas in the event of his death.
Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, DC, told CNN that Hamas could now aim to wage guerilla warfare against IDF troops - and is now unlikely to agree to a hostage deal.
Experts also fear that Sinwar may have demanded the execution of all the remaining hostages inside Gaza in the event of his death.
Gershon Baskin, a top negotiator who oversaw Sinwar's release from an Israeli prison in 2011, dubbed his death a "moment of doom".
He told The Telegraph: "[Sinwar's death] is a moment of doom because rumours are that he instructed [Hamas terrorists] to kill the remaining hostages in the event of his death."
The expert said that the rumours are being taken seriously given the bloody history of Sinwar and his hatred for the Israeli people.
The return of the innocent hostages now depends solely on Israel's ability to either crack a hostage deal or save them from Gaza in heroic rescue missions.
But the latter seems to be unlikely given Israel has still not been able to wipe out all Hamas terrorists inside the narrow strip.
Though Israeli officials have hinted towards a potential hostage deal with what remains of Hamas' last governing officials in exchange for Sinwar's mortal remains, sources previously told CNN.
An Israeli diplomatic source said: "If Hamas wants to swap his remains for Israelis, dead or alive, then fine ... Otherwise, handing him over is not going to happen."
A second source said that Hamas supporters would be desperate to get Sinwar's body back, who would then turn his grave into a shrine to inspire future terrorists.
Israeli Prime Minister said this week he would allow Hamas terrorists to "get out" of Gaza and "live" if they returned all the remaining hostages.
But things could get worse as Hamas will inevitably choose its next successor who may follow Sinwar's footsteps to continue the bloody conflict and push the Middle East into an all-out war.
A NEW DAWN FOR HAMAS?
Muhammad Sinwar, the slain terror chief's brother, is being seen as the next possible successor to take over the terror outfit.
He became the de facto second-in-command of Hamas' leadership in Gaza following the deaths of top Hamas military commanders, such as Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa.
Mohammed became a trusted confidant of Yahya, being one of the few people who knew where the Hamas boss was hiding during the war.
Israeli officials warned that Muhammad is as much of a hardliner as his brother, and could pose as a major obstacle in a potential hostage deal - especially after Israel killed his brother.
Grisha Yakubovich, a former senior Israeli military official and expert on Palestinian affairs, explained how Mohammed Sinwar's rise to power poses a significant danger.
He told The Sun: “Mohammed Sinwar is just as radical, if not more, than Yahya Sinwar.
"If he takes over the leadership of Hamas, the situation could become significantly worse.”
Mohammed, though operating largely behind the scenes, is said to have earned a reputation for being ruthless and uncompromising.
According to Yakubovich, his leadership style could push the group into even more violent confrontations with Israel.
“He’s in the top of the military wing,” Yakubovich pointed out, referring to Mohammed’s key role in Hamas’ military operations.
“He’s one of the strongest players. If Yahya is killed, Mohammed could rise quickly.”
Unlike Yahya, who has made headlines for his terror activities over the years, 49-year-old Mohammed operates more in the shadows, but his influence is undeniable, the expert said.
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DIED LIKE A DOG
Sinwar was taken out by a trainee squad of Israeli commandos after being left as the cowering final survivor of a gunfight.
Sinwar had his last humiliating moments sitting slumped over in an armchair in a bombed-out building in the Strip as he feebly tried to fight off an Israeli drone with a stick.
An autopsy revealed that Sinwar was likely wiped out by a long-range gunshot to the head - executed with sniper-like precision.
His corpse was also riddled with shrapnel fragments after the house he was in was blasted by a tank.
He was discovered by the troops armed with a flak jacket, 40,000 shekels ($10,731.63), and a firearm.
"He tried to escape and our forces eliminated him," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said during a televised briefing.
Graphic images shared online on Thursday appeared to show his dead body in the ruins of the struck building in Rafah, with a horrific head wound.
The army later released footage of Sinwar's final moments, hunched over and wounded inside a bombed building in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel shared declassified footage that showed Sinwar fleeing into secret Gaza tunnels on the night before the October 7 attacks.
In the three-minute-long video, Sinwar is ferrying large packs of water bottles, comfy pillows, and other supplies inside a narrow concrete tunnel.
Accompanied by his children and wife, he can be seen moving back and forth while carrying essential supplies to prepare for a comfortable stay in the underground lair.
Sinwar lived a life of relative luxury even while hiding as Gaza continued to burn because of a war he started.
The narrow strip is now almost completely destroyed after Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas and bring its people back.
But in that effort. more than 42,000 people have been killed - almost 10,000 of them being children, according to Gaza-run health centres.
IDF claims at least 11,000 of them were Hamas men.
Meanwhile, Israel launched its ground operation in Lebanon earlier this month to weaken Hezbollah and push the terror group away from the border to allow displaced Israelis to return.
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