On October 16th, Israeli troops killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, by pure luck.
Nobody thought Sinwar was fighting on the frontline with his men; instead, he was expected to hide in the depths of the Gaza tunnel network.
Sinwar's life was shaped by the harsh realities of Israeli occupation and brutal imprisonment, which led to his deep involvement in the Palestinian resistance movement. He co-founded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and spent over 20 years in Israeli prisons before his release in a prisoner exchange in 2011. He rose to become the leader of Hamas in Gaza, known for his hardline stance against Israel. In his role as a counterintelligence officer, he was in charge of detecting and eliminating Israeli spies. Sinwar's leadership style was ruthless and hardline in both the political and military arenas. He was viewed as a symbol of resilience, having survived years of conflict and assassination attempts.
Sinwar sought to strengthen the group’s military capabilities while also maintaining connections with regional powers like Iran. He was seen as a steadfast leader in the struggle against Israeli occupation. His death may spark increased retaliation from Hamas and its allies, further escalating the conflict.
From a broader perspective, the loss of such a key leader may lead to internal shifts within Hamas, potentially paving the way for new leaders with varying strategic priorities. Meanwhile, Israel’s military actions continue to focus on dismantling Hamas leadership as a means to weaken the group’s influence in the region.
One wonders why Israel published the video of Yahya Sinwar's last moments, his head and face enveloped in a keffiyeh, bent and injured, defiantly throwing a stick at a drone in a last-ditch effort and act of final resistance. Tank fire then destroyed the house, and an IDF sniper delivered a fatal shot.
With Sinwar's death, a new legend of Palestinian resistance was born. He will inspire a new generation of Palestinian youth, who are even more determined than before. Israel can continue to kill the leaders, but there are millions ready to take their place.
Read more about Sinwar at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/17/yahya-sinwar-obituary