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Last Updated:January 25, 2025, 21:06 IST
The unseen footage, aired by Al Jazeera, shows Sinwar on the battlefields of Gaza, directing military operations in the Rafah area
In the footage, Sinwar is seen wearing a military vest, holding a stick, and covered by a blanket.
New footage of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, has surfaced three months after his death during an Israeli operation in Gaza on October 16.
The unseen footage, aired by Al Jazeera, shows Sinwar on the battlefields of Gaza, directing military operations in the Rafah area.
In the footage, Sinwar is seen wearing a military vest, holding a stick, and covered by a blanket. The surrounding area is heavily damaged, providing a stark representation of the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict.
A building where Sinwar briefly stayed features graffiti of the Hebrew word “north", suggesting that Israeli forces had raided the property before his arrival, NDTV reported.
In another clip, Sinwar is seen with an associate, both of them discussing a map spread before them. The broadcast also includes a visual of a signed order from Sinwar, then the chief of Hamas, which authorised the October 7 assault on Israel.
Who Was Yahya Sinwar?
Yahya Sinwar, 62, was the Hamas leader who masterminded the October 7 attacks on Israel, sparking the Gaza war. He became the head of Hamas in August, following the death of his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, in an explosion in Iran in July last year.
Born in 1962 in the Khan Younis refugee camp, Sinwar was an early member of Hamas, which was founded in 1987. He rose through the ranks to lead the group’s security branch, working to eliminate informants for Israel.
Sinwar was often called the “Butcher of Khan Younis" for his role in interrogating, torturing, and executing Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel or violating Islamic codes, especially during his time as head of Hamas’ internal security. He spent over two decades in an Israeli prison for his involvement in the murder of two Israeli soldiers. In 2011, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
After his release, Sinwar quickly rose through the ranks of Hamas, known for his ruthlessness. He is widely believed to have been behind the 2016 killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud Ishtewi, during an internal power struggle.
Sinwar became the de facto ruler of Gaza and worked closely with Ismail Haniyeh to strengthen ties with Iran and expand Hamas’ military capabilities.
ALSO READ: Yahya Sinwar Dead: How The ‘Butcher of Khan Younis’ Orchestrated Hamas’s October 7 ‘Big Project’
Location : First Published:January 25, 2025, 21:04 IST
News world Newly Released Footage Shows Slain Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Leading Militants Into War | Watch
