The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently released drone footage capturing the final moments of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar, one of the most wanted figures in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sinwar, who had been in hiding for over a year, was located and killed by IDF forces in southern Gaza on October 16, 2024.
This operation marked a significant milestone in Israel’s efforts to dismantle the leadership of Hamas, following the group’s devastating attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.
The Final Moments: Drone Footage Released
On October 17, 2024, the IDF released drone footage that provides a glimpse into the last moments of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. The video shows Sinwar sitting on a couch inside a heavily damaged building, surrounded by rubble. The dilapidated state of the house reflects the intensity of Israeli airstrikes in the area, as the IDF intensifies its operations against Hamas leadership.
In the footage of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s final moments, a drone inspecting the inside of the bombed building captures Sinwar. Upon noticing the drone, the injured Sinwar throws a stick at it. https://t.co/7vmAPjYUvi pic.twitter.com/d8OdYqqrMl
— Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) October 17, 2024
In the footage, Sinwar appears visibly distressed as he looks directly at the reconnaissance drone capturing the scene. In a desperate act, Sinwar is seen throwing an object—possibly a branch or debris—toward the drone, though his efforts to evade detection were futile.
The footage encapsulates the final moments of one of Hamas’s most notorious leaders, who had been responsible for orchestrating numerous attacks on Israel, including the October 7 massacre.
According to Israeli officials, Sinwar had been on the run since the October 2023 attacks, frequently moving between different locations in Gaza to avoid capture.
Despite his efforts to evade Israeli intelligence and military forces, his luck ran out in mid-October 2024 when the IDF, working closely with Israeli intelligence services, tracked him down to a location in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
Read : Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Killed
The video of Sinwar’s final moments is a symbolic reminder of the lengths the Israeli military is willing to go to dismantle the Hamas leadership. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the IDF, stated that Sinwar’s elimination was a critical step in the broader goal of defeating Hamas. “Sinwar was responsible for the most brutal attack against Israel in our history,” Hagari said, referring to the deadly October 7 attacks.
The Role of Yahya Sinwar in the October 7 Attacks
Yahya Sinwar played a central role in planning and executing the October 7, 2023, attacks, which are widely regarded as the deadliest in Israeli history. On that day, hundreds of Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack from Gaza, infiltrating Israeli territory and targeting civilians.
The coordinated assault resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians. In addition to the killings, the attackers abducted dozens of hostages, including men, women, children, and the elderly.
Sinwar, as the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was not only the mastermind behind the military strategy but also a vocal advocate of using violent tactics to achieve political goals.
This is how Yahya Sinwar, the Hamxs chief who orchestrated the October 7th attack, looked after he was ended by the IDF.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 17, 2024
Justice served. pic.twitter.com/6XHdOIMSl6
He had long been a key figure within Hamas, overseeing the group’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. His leadership transformed Hamas into a more formidable military organization, with a focus on rocket attacks, tunnel warfare, and kidnappings as key components of their strategy against Israel.
In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Sinwar went into hiding, as Israel launched a massive military response aimed at neutralizing Hamas and its leadership. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to hold those responsible for the attacks accountable, with Sinwar being one of the top targets.
His death in October 2024, following more than a year of relentless pursuit by Israeli forces, represents a significant achievement for Israel in its war against Hamas.
Sinwar’s death is not just a personal blow to Hamas but also a symbolic victory for Israel. For many Israelis, Sinwar was the face of Hamas’s violent campaign against their country, and his elimination serves as a form of justice for the victims of the October 7 attacks.
Implications of Sinwar’s Death on the Gaza Conflict
The death of Yahya Sinwar is being hailed by Israeli officials as a turning point in their ongoing campaign to eliminate Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had earlier described Sinwar’s death as an “important landmark in the decline of the evil rule of Hamas,” reiterated that the war against Hamas is far from over, but that Sinwar’s elimination marks the “beginning of the end.”
The broader implications of Sinwar’s death, however, remain to be seen. While his elimination is undoubtedly a significant blow to Hamas, it does not mean the immediate end of the conflict. Hamas is a large and decentralized organization with multiple leaders, and Sinwar’s death is likely to lead to the emergence of new figures within the group’s leadership structure.
Nonetheless, Sinwar’s death will likely have a profound impact on the morale of Hamas fighters and its leadership. Sinwar was not only a military strategist but also a powerful symbol of Hamas’s resistance against Israel. His death will create a leadership vacuum within the organization and could potentially lead to internal divisions as different factions vie for control.
On the other hand, the loss of such a key figure may also embolden some within Hamas to escalate their attacks on Israel. Historically, Hamas has responded to the killing of its leaders with retaliatory attacks, and there is a possibility that Sinwar’s death could trigger a new wave of violence. Already, Israeli forces are preparing for the potential of increased rocket fire from Gaza in response to the operation that led to Sinwar’s death.
In addition to the immediate military implications, Sinwar’s death also raises questions about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Since the war began in October 2023, Gaza has been subjected to intense Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties.
The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that over 42,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, and the United Nations has acknowledged the accuracy of these figures.
Despite the high civilian toll, Israeli officials maintain that their war is with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari emphasized this distinction in his statement following Sinwar’s death, saying, “Our war is with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza.”
He also reiterated Israel’s commitment to increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, including food, water, and medicine, to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
Yahya Sinwar’s death is a major victory for Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas. His elimination marks the end of a lengthy manhunt and removes one of the most dangerous figures from Hamas’s leadership. For the families of those killed or kidnapped in the October 7 attacks, Sinwar’s death represents a form of justice, though the pain of their loss remains.
However, Sinwar’s death does not signal the end of the conflict. Hamas is a resilient organization, and the war in Gaza is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
As Israeli forces continue their operations in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis is worsening, and the possibility of further escalation remains high.
For Israel, the challenge now is to balance its military objectives with the need to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Sinwar’s death may have been a significant achievement, but the path to peace in the region remains fraught with challenges.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏