Israeli planes dropped leaflets over southern Gaza on Saturday showing a picture of the dead Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar with the message that "Hamas will no longer rule Gaza", echoing language used by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas will likely replace Yahya Sinwar with a new political leader based outside Gaza while his brother - Mohammad Sinwar - is expected to assume a bigger role directing the war against Israel in the territory,

Israeli soldiers killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 attack, in a death that leaves a huge hole at the top of the militant group and spurred fresh US pressure for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in the Gaza Strip.