New Delhi: Israel has released a video footage showing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar moving his belongings into a tunnel in Gaza just hours before the deadly October 7 attack last year, which marked the beginning of the ongoing war. The footage, provided by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), was shared following Sinwar’s death in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza, where he was killed during a firefight after being cornered in a destroyed building.
The video shows Sinwar, along with his wife and children, moving household items such as a television, water, pillows, and mattresses into a tunnel beneath their family home in Khan Younis. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari explained that the tunnel system was equipped with basic amenities, including toilets, showers, and a kitchen, indicating that Sinwar was preparing for an extended stay.
🎥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
Sinwar was evading Israeli forces for over a year
Sinwar, one of the key figures behind the October 7 assault on Israel, had been evading Israeli forces for over a year. His final hiding place was discovered after Israeli forces found a DNA sample on a tissue he had used. The footage also revealed that Sinwar was critically injured in his last moments, seen throwing an object at a drone before being killed by a gunshot to the head.
Hamas responded to Sinwar’s death by calling it a “heroic” engagement in battle, rejecting Israeli accounts as “blatant lies”. Meanwhile, drone footage confirmed Sinwar was fatally wounded during an Israeli tank strike on the building he was hiding in.
Israel continues military operations in Gaza
The death of Sinwar, who had recently taken over leadership following the killing of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, raises questions about Hamas’s future leadership as the conflict intensifies. Israeli forces have continued their military operations in Gaza, and tensions have further escalated with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s attacks over the past year have killed 50 Israeli soldiers and civilians, while Israeli strikes in Lebanon have caused over 2,300 deaths and displaced more than 12 lakh people.
Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel has vowed to dismantle Hamas entirely. Leaflets dropped by Israeli planes over southern Gaza on Saturday carried the message: “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza.”
