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.

In a windowless room, somewhere in the bowels of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters, Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi jabbed his index finger forward.

For Sinwar, 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.

Qatari officials told families of the Israeli hostages that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar not calling them has affected mediation talks

After his release, Sinwar rose in the Hamas ranks. In 2017, he became the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. Then after Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran this year, he became the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, or the group's de facto leader.

Israeli officials are reportedly considering exiling Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and others to Sudan, to bring the war to an end.

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.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is unrepentant about the 7 October attacks a year ago, people in contact with him have said, despite unleashing an Israeli invasion that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians,