'Small, Ugly, Broken Figure': How Israeli Soldier Recounted Minutes Spent Alone With Yahya Sinwar's Body

The drone footage, released by Israeli forces, shows Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's final moments. Image/X@Israel

In his post on Facebook, Lt Col Itamar Eitam spoke about the "pain" caused by Yahya Sinwar. The Hamas leader was the architect of the October 7 attacks, and his death comes as a significant blow to the group

An Israeli soldier described Yahya Sinwar as a “small, ugly, and broken figure” in details that he revealed about the minutes he spent alone with the Hamas leader’s body after completing the mission.

According to reports, Lt Col Itamar Eitam said he found Sinwar lying on a broken couch. “I just left Rafah. Not long ago, I looked him – Sinwar – in the eyes. I had a few minutes alone with him, and I looked at him – a small, ugly, and broken figure, lying on a shattered couch,” he wrote on social media.

In his post on Facebook, Eitam spoke about the “pain” Sinwar caused. The Hamas leader was the architect of the October 7 attacks, and his death comes as a significant blow to the group.

Eitam said the world is a much better place without Sinwar in it, but he also “felt pain” for the ruined city of Rafah. He, however, said he felt “insulted on behalf of God” as Sinwar “chose evil, chose wickedness” even though he too was “once a baby and a child, and had a choice”.

“So much pain this man caused. I looked at the ruined city, and I even felt pain for them, but more than anything, I felt insulted – insulted on behalf of God. Because he, too, was once a baby and a child, and he had a choice, and he chose evil. He chose wickedness. What an insult that he was also a person created in Your image. How distorted,” he said. “How much better the world is now. We won’t be confused, and we won’t give up. Together we will win. Happy holiday.”

The Hamas leader, whose attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza, was killed on October 16 in a gunfight with Israeli forces after a year-long manhunt, and his death was announced on October 17.

There is a video of some of his final minutes, showing him masked and wounded in a shell-smashed apartment trying to hurl a stick at a drone. “He died a hero, attacking not fleeing, clutching his rifle, and engaging against the occupation army at the front line,” a Hamas statement mourning Sinwar’s death said.

In the statement, Hamas has vowed his death will only strengthen the movement, adding that it will not compromise on conditions to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel.