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.

TOKYO, JAPAN: A group of pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest during a fan meetup organized by popular Israeli-Palestinian vlogger Nuseir Yassin, better known as Nas Daily, in Tokyo on Saturday (12 Oct).

The activists accused Yassin of downplaying the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in widespread devastation.

Yassin, who gained fame for his travel and cultural content through a series of one-minute videos, was confronted by the demonstrators shortly after the event began.

One protester asserted that Yassin was not merely “another content creator” but rather “a willing brutal tool of Israel’s propaganda machine.”

Signs held by the protesters echoed these sentiments, with messages like “We don’t need influencers who are complicit in genocide” and “Jews for a free Palestine.”

During the confrontation, Yassin was seen taking photos with fans and reportedly stated, “My country is Israel.”

Eyewitness accounts indicated that he laughed and mocked the atrocities being recounted by the protesters, even cursing at them and claiming they would be “the first people to die in Palestine.”

In a surprising turn, one attendee who initially came to meet Yassin changed their stance after witnessing the exchange, remarking, “I came here for the event, but after listening to you and listening to him right now, I’m not on his side.”

This individual emphasized the importance of basic humanity, criticizing Yassin for laughing in the face of suffering.

Yassin was made to cut the event short as it was said that he did not have the required permit to hold the event.

Tensions escalated as Nas Daily fans responded to the activists with insults and physical violence, which was captured in widely circulated social media clips.

In an update on his social media platform X on Monday (14 Oct), Yassin shared a video of the incident and expressed that he was “excited” by the protesters’ presence.

He stated, “I told them I agreed with them. I also want a Free Palestine from Hamas. Free Palestine from terrorism. Free Palestine from radical religion.”

However, he noted that the activists seemed to want a Free Palestine only from Jews.

This protest occurs against the backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza, where Israel’s military actions have resulted in over 42,000 deaths and more than 99,000 injuries since 7 October 2023.