Slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was seen as a key obstacle to any agreement on the Israeli hostages seized during the attack that he orchestrated.

But with his group plunged into a leadership vacuum by his death, the future of hostage negotiations appears to have become even more complicated.

Hamas now needs to appoint a replacement, and that person will play a key role in determining the fate of the Israelis kept hostage since its attack on Oct. 7, 2023.