Former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli operation in southern Gaza last week, was seen in a tunnel with his wife and children hours before the deadly October 7 attack on Israel last year. The now deceased Hamas leader carried pillows, mattresses, television and bags into the tunnel beneath their family in Khan Younis, CCTV footage showed.
Meanwhile, his wife was seen carrying a Hermes bag, which Israel says is worth $32,000.
Israel said, “Yahya Sinwar's wife was caught sneaking into the tunnels the night before the October 7 attack,” claiming she was carrying a Hermes Birkin bag worth $32,000 (Rs 26.88 lakh ).
Sinwar's wife was caught in this photo sneaking out to the tunnels the night before October 7 – take note – with a $32,000 Hermes Birkin bag in her hand!
While Gazans endured hardship under Hamas, Sinwar and his family lived in shameless luxury while sending others to their deaths. pic.twitter.com/Q9fTqhqxo8
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 20, 2024
“While Gazans endured hardship under Hamas, Sinwar and his family lived in shameless luxury while sending others to their deaths,” Israel said.
Israel shared a screenshot from the video, which shows Sinwar's wife holding a bag. In the blurry photo, the design on the bag appears 'similar' to the Hermes Birkin 40 Black Togo Gold Hardware edition. The Palestinian militant group has yet to challenge Israel's claim.
The images were released after Sinwar's death in the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an armored-infantry attack. Israel's 828th Brigade carried out “intelligence-based targeted raids and operations,” the Israeli military said, detailing the damage assessment that found assault rifles and snipers in Sinwar's hideout and body.
🎥DECLASSIFIED IMAGE:
Sinwar hours before the October 7 massacre: taking down his TV in his tunnel, hiding among his citizens and preparing to watch his terrorists murdered, robbed and raped. pic.twitter.com/wTAF9xAPLU
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 19, 2024
Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari showed photos of the underground complex with toilets, showers and a kitchen. Food, cash and documents were also found there.
Hamas, meanwhile, said Sinwar died heroically in battle, calling Hagar's comments “blatant lies.”
Drone footage from earlier this week showed Sinwar seriously injured in his final moments as he threw an object at the drone. The autopsy revealed that Sinwar was killed by a shot to the head, and it was also found that one of his fingers had been severed.
During a year of conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli army often surrounded Sinwar, but the latter managed to escape. Israel had identified Sinwar's last hiding place after the army “found his DNA sample on a tissue he used to blow his nose,” Hagari said.
Yahya Sinwar masterminded the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, resulting in a year-long Israeli operation in Gaza that killed more than 40,000 people, including children.
