Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar sent a telegram to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, expressing gratitude for Hezbollah's backing in the Gaza war, Lebanese media reported on Friday.
Sinwar also thanked Nasrallah for offering condolences following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, calling the ongoing war with Israel "one of the historically respected battles of our people."
In the message attributed to Sinwar, he praised the solidarity shown with Gaza as "blessed actions on the resistance's fronts" and vowed that Hamas would continue to "stand firm" against Israel, remaining loyal to "the blood of the martyrs" until "the occupation is banished and a Palestinian state is established."
Sinwar, who now also leads Hamas's political bureau, has maintained low visibility since the war began. In late October, he issued his only official statement, proposing the immediate release of Israeli hostages in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
According to The New York Times, Sinwar has managed to evade capture by avoiding electronic communications, using messengers instead—a strategy similar to that of former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Israeli and U.S. officials, however, have expressed frustration that, unlike bin Laden, Sinwar remains an active leader of Hamas.
On Friday, Lebanon’s Al Nahar channel also reported that Hezbollah warned residents of towns near the Israeli border to brace for increased Israeli attacks as tensions continue to escalate. Over 100,000 Lebanese have evacuated southern Lebanon since cross-border fighting with Israel began in October, though many remain in areas under Israeli fire.