New Delhi:
Israel on Saturday launched footage displaying Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar transferring his belongings to a tunnel in Gaza hours earlier than the October 7 assault final 12 months that triggered the continued struggle.
The footage was launched following Sinwar’s dying within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, in a firefight that ended with the Hamas chief cornered and alone in a destroyed constructing.
The footage reveals Sinwar and his spouse and kids transferring belongings, together with a tv, water, pillows and mattresses, into the tunnel that Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari mentioned was situated beneath the household dwelling in Khan Younis.
🎥DECLASSIFIED FOOTAGE:
Sinwar hours earlier than the October 7 bloodbath: taking down his TV into his tunnel, hiding beneath his civilians, and getting ready to look at his terrorists homicide, kindap and rape. pic.twitter.com/wTAF9xAPLU
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 19, 2024
During a press briefing, Hagari confirmed pictures of the underground compound, which had bogs, showers and a kitchen. Food, money and paperwork have been additionally discovered there.
Hamas, in the meantime, mentioned Sinwar died heroically partaking in battle, calling Hagar’s remarks “blatant lies”.
Drone footage from earlier this week confirmed Sinwar critically wounded in his final moments, throwing an object on the drone. Autopsy discovered that Sinwar was killed by a gunshot to the top, and in addition discovered one in every of his fingers was lower off.
During a 12 months of the Israel-Hamas battle, the Israel Defence Forces had typically closed in on Sinwar, however the latter managed to flee. Israel had recognized Sinwar’s ultimate hiding after the army discovered “his DNA pattern on a tissue with which he blew his nostril,” mentioned Hagari.
While the October 7 assault in Israel killed round 1,200 folks and resulted in 235 folks being taken hostage, the Israel operation in Gaza over a 12 months has resulted in over 40,000 deaths.
The dying of Sinwar, who had simply months in the past changed slain predecessor Ismail Haniyeh, raises questions on who will lead the Hamas amid a struggle that has additionally drawn in Lebanon. Israeli assaults on Lebanon killed not less than 2,350 folks over the past 12 months, in line with the Lebanese well being ministry, with greater than 1.2 million folks displaced. Hezbollah assaults have killed 50 Israeli troopers and civilians, in line with Israel.