Sinwar was not hiding in tunnels, contrary to Israeli PM Netanyahu’s claims

Yahya Sinwar, the 61-year-old leader of Hamas, was killed by Israeli forces this week, marking the end of a year-long hunt for the mastermind of the 7 October attack on Israel. His death was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday (17 Oct) . According to reports, Sinwar was found in the Tel Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, Gaza, lying among the rubble of a destroyed building. Initial details of his death have led to a re-examination of previous claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had suggested that Sinwar had been hiding in tunnels beneath Gaza to evade capture. Sinwar, long considered one of Israel’s most-wanted figures, was a key figure in the 7 October assault, which left 1,139 dead and hundreds taken hostage. Following his death, Netanyahu hailed the operation as a major victory for Israel, stating that “we have settled the score” and describing Sinwar’s elimination as a symbolic moment in Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. However, discrepancies have emerged between Netanyahu’s prior statements and the circumstances of Sinwar’s death. The prime minister had previously asserted that Sinwar was hiding deep within Hamas’ network of underground tunnels, implying cowardice and evasion. In a televised address, Netanyahu characterised Sinwar as a leader who had fled from Israeli soldiers, declaring that he was “hiding in a dark den” and was killed while “running away in fear”. Yet, reports from the field challenge this narrative. According to multiple sources, Sinwar was killed in the open air, dressed in combat fatigues, and actively engaged in fighting when he was struck. Israeli media has aired graphic footage showing Sinwar’s body, identifiable by his injuries, and his last moments appear to have been spent throwing grenades at Israeli forces and attempting to strike an Israeli drone with a wooden stick in a final act of defiance.

This stands in stark contrast to the image of a man cowering underground in tunnels, as initially suggested by Netanyahu. Furthermore, reports from Israeli media suggest that Sinwar’s death was not the result of a targeted intelligence operation, as had been the case with previous high-profile Hamas leaders. Instead, Sinwar appears to have been killed by chance during a ground skirmish with Israeli troops. His body was reportedly discovered among the rubble of a building in Rafah, along with weapons, cash, and fake IDs. These findings suggest that Sinwar was actively moving between combat positions, rather than hiding underground.
The confusion surrounding the exact details of Sinwar’s death has prompted further scrutiny. An autopsy conducted by Israel’s national forensic institute concluded that Sinwar had died from a gunshot wound to the head, contradicting earlier claims that he was killed by a tank shell fired into the building. While the exact sequence of events remains unclear, it is apparent that Sinwar was not killed while attempting to flee, as previously suggested, but rather while he was engaging Israeli forces directly. This revelation is likely to fuel the burgeoning martyrdom cult surrounding Sinwar, particularly within Palestinian territories. His death in combat, clad in military gear and actively resisting Israeli troops, has already sparked comparisons to historical figures such as Che Guevara, whose own violent end became a symbol of resistance. Sinwar’s deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, emphasised this narrative, stating that Sinwar died “facing and not retreating”. The contrasting accounts of Sinwar’s final moments could have implications for both sides of the conflict. For Israel, the death of such a prominent figure may provide a symbolic victory, but it also complicates the broader narrative that Hamas leaders were merely hiding in tunnels while leaving civilians exposed to the horrors of war. For Palestinians, Sinwar’s death in battle, rather than in retreat, may further fuel his image as a martyr for the cause, galvanising support among Hamas sympathisers.