Defiant martyr or defeated terrorist? Israeli footage of Yahya Sinwar's last moments sparks debate

The final images of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, captured by an Israeli drone before he was killed, have sparked a wave of reactions across the Middle East, with some celebrating his death and others hailing him as a defiant martyr.

The footage, showing Sinwar wounded and cornered in a bombed-out Palestinian home, has added fuel to the debate surrounding his legacy, with starkly different interpretations emerging from Israel and the Arab and Muslim world.

For Israel, Sinwar’s death is a victory. But in Gaza and across the broader Arab world, many see him as a symbol of resistance.

Celebrated as a martyr

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In the Arab and Muslim world, whether supporters of Hamas or not, the grainy footage of Sinwar’s last moments has become a rallying point.

The clip, which shows the Hamas leader throwing a stick at the Israeli drone that filmed him, has gone viral on social media. His supporters see it as proof that he died fighting, refusing to surrender.

Raw footage of Yahya Sinwar’s last moments: pic.twitter.com/GJGDlu7bie

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 17, 2024

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Video edits of the clip overlayed with audio of quotes from Sinwar’s previous speeches, in which he vowed to die on the battlefield, the footage has been embraced as a symbol of defiance.

An oil painting of a masked Sinwar sitting in an armchair, inspired by the last image of him alive, was widely shared online, portraying him as a heroic figure.

“By broadcasting the last minutes of Yahya Sinwar’s life, the occupation made his life longer than the lives of his killers,” wrote Egyptian journalist Osama Gaweesh on social media.

Prominent Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa argued that Israel’s attempt to demoralise Palestinians had backfired. “In reality, the footage immortalizes Sinwar and galvanizes all of us to have courage and resolve until the last moment,” she wrote on X.

further on the folly of the colonizer's mentality. they thought that publishing footage of Sinwar's last moments would demoralize us, make us feel defeat. in reality, the footage immortalizes Sinwar and galvanizes all of us to have courage and resolve until the last moment. the…

— susan abulhawa | سوزان ابو الهوى (@susanabulhawa) October 18, 2024

In Gaza, reactions were more mixed. Some mourned his death, while others hoped it could bring an end to the war that began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Yet, in Khan Younis, Sinwar’s birthplace, mourners gathered in a bombed-out mosque to recite funeral prayers for him, even though Israel has retained his body.

For many, his death on the battlefield, rather than hidden in a tunnel (as Israel alleged he had been for months), elevated him to the status of a martyr.

Celebrations in Israel

Meanwhile, in Israel, Sinwar’s death was celebrated as the elimination of a key figure responsible for the October 7 attack.

Israeli soldiers were filmed distributing sweets, and residents of Sderot, a town heavily targeted by Hamas militants, danced in the streets, draped in Israeli flags.

Israeli officials pointed to Sinwar’s death as a major blow to Hamas.

“Defeated, outcast, and persecuted,” said Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson.

The Israeli military also dropped leaflets in southern Gaza with the image of Sinwar’s dead body, telling Palestinians, “Sinwar destroyed your lives. He hid in a dark hole and was liquidated while escaping fearfully.”

As Israel celebrated, protests erupted from families of hostages still held by Hamas, who urged the government to use the moment to negotiate the return of their loved ones.

With inputs from agencies