Israeli military officer, Lt. Col. Itamar Eitam, shared his personal reflections after the operation that resulted in the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Rafah, southern Gaza. Sinwar, who masterminded the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, was found and killed by Israeli forces during a routine patrol in the area.
Eitam detailed the moments following the mission, where he found Sinwar lying on a battered couch. “He was a small, ugly, and broken figure,” Eitam described in a poignant account, reflecting on the emotional weight of the encounter. “So much pain this man caused,” Eitam wrote, noting the destruction Sinwar had brought to Israel and expressing mixed emotions as he observed the devastation in Rafah. Despite the suffering, he acknowledged, “he, too, was once a baby and a child, and he had a choice. He chose evil. How much better the world is now.”
Raw footage of Yahya Sinwar’s last moments: pic.twitter.com/GJGDlu7bie
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 17, 2024
The mission that led to Sinwar’s death occurred without prior knowledge of his location. According to Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari, the patrol unexpectedly encountered Sinwar and two other militants. Sinwar split from his group and sought refuge in a nearby building, only to be tracked by Israeli drones. In a final act of defiance, Sinwar was seen attempting to throw an object at the drone moments before being fatally shot.
Forensic analysis later confirmed Sinwar’s identity, with an autopsy revealing a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the killing as a pivotal moment, calling it the potential “beginning of the end” of the war against Hamas.
While Hamas confirmed Sinwar’s death, the group vowed to continue its fight, asserting that his death would only strengthen their resistance. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages have urged the government to prioritize their release as military operations continue in Gaza.
