Israel releases video of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar preparing to go underground before October 7 attack – Firstpost

The Israeli military released footage on Saturday (October 19) showing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar preparing for an extended stay underground in Gaza, hours before the militant group launched its deadly attack on October 7.

The footage, widely shared on social media, offers a glimpse into Sinwar’s actions shortly before the attack that sparked the ongoing conflict.

Sinwar, Hamas’ top leader in the Gaza Strip, is accused of orchestrating the unprecedented attack on October 7 last year that sparked the current war. According to Israeli authorities, he was killed by Israeli forces earlier this week.

The video released by the Israeli army shows Sinwar with his wife and children in a tunnel under his family’s home, as described by Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an army spokesman. The footage shows Sinwar bringing a television into the tunnel, which the Israeli military said was part of his preparation to remain hidden during the attack.

“Sinwar hours before the October 7 massacre: He took his television into his tunnel, hid among his civilians and prepared to watch his fellow terrorists murder, kidnap and rape,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). he said in a post on social media platform X along with the video.

🎥Shared Footage:

Sinwar hours before the October 7 massacre: He dismantled his television in his tunnel, hid among his civilians and prepared to watch his terrorists murder, rape and rape. pic.twitter.com/wTAF9xAPLU

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 19, 2024

Previously, the Israeli military shared drone footage that allegedly showed Sinwar in his final moments, sitting on a chair and hurling a stick at the drone that was recording him. While the intent behind releasing the footage remains unclear, the video quickly gained traction online, particularly among pro-Palestinian groups.

Sinwar’s death sparked mixed reactions. In Khan Younis, his birthplace, mourners gathered in a bombed-out mosque to offer funeral prayers for him, even as Israeli forces kept his body. For many Palestinians, his death on the battlefield, rather than hidden in tunnels, as Israel had claimed, turned him into a martyr.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, described Sinwar’s death as a major blow to Hamas’ leadership. But while the hostages’ families and some international observers hoped his killing could mark a step toward ending the war, there were no significant developments to suggest an early resolution.