Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Hamas' top leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) also announced the death of Sinwar earlier on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the IDF and the ISA said Sinwar was killed by IDF soldiers in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas has not confirmed Sinwar's death.
Sinwar was elected as Hamas' political bureau chief on August 6, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran, Iran in July.
Israeli PM confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed by Israeli troops in Gaza
Israeli PM confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed by Israeli troops in Gaza
Israeli PM confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed by Israeli troops in Gaza
A dozen people have been arrested following a devastating fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia that claimed 59 lives, with investigations at the site still ongoing, local officials said on Monday.
The fire broke out at the nightclub in Kocani Municipality in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing 59 people and injuring 163, including 45 in critical condition.
North Macedonia's Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said on Monday that those arrested include managers, security personnel and ticketing staff at the nightclub.
The Mayor of Kocani Municipality, Ljupco Papazov, announced his resignation following the tragedy and expressed his willingness to be investigated.
Preliminary investigations showed that the blaze was triggered by a pyrotechnics display used by a live band who were performing on stage at the club. The fireworks used onstage were brought by the band, and the person responsible for operating them had died in the accident.
Hundreds gathered in Kocani's town center on Sunday evening to silently pay their respects, lighting candles to honor those who perished in the fire.
The small town of 30,000 people is struggling to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy, while North Macedonia has declared seven days of national mourning.
Dozen arrested after nightclub fire kills 59 in North Macedonia
