In a significant development during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a firefight in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israel released footage showing Sinwar moving his belongings to a tunnel in Gaza just hours before the October 7 attack in 2023, which had ignited the current war. The footage, shared by Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, showed Sinwar and his family relocating items, such as a television, water, pillows, and mattresses, into a tunnel beneath their home in Khan Younis.
🎥DECLASSIFIED FOOTAGE:
Sinwar hours before the October 7 massacre: taking down his TV into his tunnel, hiding underneath his civilians, and preparing to watch his terrorists murder, kindap and rape. pic.twitter.com/wTAF9xAPLU
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 19, 2024
During a press briefing, Hagari revealed photos of the underground compound, which included facilities like toilets, showers, and a kitchen. Food, cash, and documents were also discovered in the tunnel. Despite Hamas claiming that Sinwar died “heroically” in battle, Israel provided drone footage showing Sinwar critically wounded in his last moments. In the footage, he is seen throwing an object at a drone before being fatally shot in the head. Israeli officials also found DNA evidence in the compound, identifying Sinwar after he used a tissue.
Death of Yahya Sinwar marks a crucial moment in the conflict. Having replaced his slain predecessor Ismail Haniyeh only months earlier, his demise raises questions about the future leadership of Hamas amid the war. With ongoing tensions drawing in Lebanon, where Hezbollah attacks have also intensified, the conflict has continued to escalate, causing widespread casualties and displacement on both sides.
