Hamas leader reportedly has not softened stance during absence, is said to be surrounded by at least 20 hostages, carried 25 kg of dynamite in sole footage of him since Oct. 7 The post After speculation he was killed,

IDF investigates rumors of the Hamas leader's assassination, Al-Arabiya reports that Sinwar contacted his associates in Qatar.

Hamas chief and Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar has reemerged after going off the grid for days — leading to speculation that he had been killed, according to a report. Sinwar resumed contact with Hamas negotiators in Qatar after going radio silent,

Hamas has demanded a complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and a permanent end to the war as a precondition for peace talks. Israel has refused to honour their demands, insisting that the arrangement would allow the terror group to retain control of the Strip and rebuild its military strength.

Israel had been investigating the possibility that Sinwar was killed in a rocket strike on September 21 that hit a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City.

For Sinwar, 62, architect of the Hamas cross-border raids that became the deadliest day in Israel's history, armed struggle remains the only way to force the creation of a Palestinian nation, four Palestinian officials and two sources from governments in the Middle East said.