Al Jazeera has aired previously unseen footage of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, three months after his death during an Israeli raid in Gaza. Sinwar, who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack that led to a major escalation of violence in the region, is shown in the footage directing military operations in the Rafah area of Gaza.
In the video, Sinwar is seen wearing a military vest and holding a stick, covered by a blanket as he moves through the ruins of war-torn Gaza. Graffiti of the Hebrew word “north” on a building’s wall suggests Israeli forces had previously raided the house where Sinwar had briefly stayed.
The footage also includes a scene where Sinwar is seen in a polo shirt, engaged in a discussion with another man, while a map is spread out before them, likely for military strategy planning.
Sinwar, a key figure in Hamas, rose through the ranks of the organization and was accused by Israel of masterminding the deadly October 7 attacks. These attacks resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israeli towns and the kidnapping of 250 civilians and soldiers. In retaliation, Israel launched extensive aerial and ground operations in Gaza. Hamas claims that Israeli operations have led to more than 47,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip.
Sinwar’s death on October 18, 2023, occurred during an Israeli raid on Gaza. In his final moments, footage showed him attempting to fight back by throwing an object at an Israeli drone. His demise came just hours after he was seen moving his belongings in a Gaza tunnel. Israel later dropped leaflets featuring Sinwar’s image with the message, “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza.”
This newly released footage comes at a time when Israel and Hamas have temporarily paused violence to exchange prisoners and hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement. This temporary truce aims to bring an end to the ongoing year-long conflict and foster peace in the Middle East.
The emergence of this footage further underscores the complex and volatile nature of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with both sides navigating through a period of fragile ceasefire as they prepare for what lies ahead in the aftermath of the ongoing war.
Sources By Agencies
