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A photo published on March 10, 2024, shows a scene of destruction after an Israeli airstrike on a tower in Gaza City (Emad El Byed/Unsplash)

In Gaza, Palestinians Reflect on Yahya Sinwar’s Death

When Israeli soldiers killed the Hamas leader last week, it symbolized far more than the end of one man's life.

Words: Mohammed Ali*
Pictures: Emad El Byed
Date:

The late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had earned a reputation for his iron grip on the Gaza Strip as well as his lifetime of fighting Israel. News that Israel killed him last week swept through the war-torn coastal enclave like a shockwave. At 62 years old, Sinwar was an emblem of Palestinian resistance. He had spent 22 years in Israeli prison before his release as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2011. His defiance to Israel made him a hero to many as much as a villain to others. More than a year into Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, his killing in Rafah also symbolized far more than the end of one man’s life.

Reports from Israeli media described a scene straight from the chaos of urban warfare. A patrol from the Bislach Brigade training unit, conducting searches in the Tal as-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah, stumbled upon Sinwar and a group of fighters moving between buildings. The soldiers used drones to pinpoint the location of the militants before a gun battle ensued, leaving three dead. Sinwar, injured and defiant, was found resting in a damaged building. In a final act of resistance, he threw a stick at the drone hovering nearby. Israeli tanks then shelled the building, ending his life.

Because Israeli forces were wary of booby traps, his body lay undisturbed for some time. It was only after securing the area that they approached him. His death was confirmed and announced to the world, with many Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, hailing it as a significant step toward ending the war and possibly securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. For Palestinians, however, the reactions were far more complex.

“Genuinely Shocked”

Rudina Nasr, a 21-year-old resident of Gaza City’s Old Town, has spent her entire youth navigating the upheavals and uncertainties of life under Israeli occupation. She, like many others in Gaza, has lived through cycles of war, loss, and displacement. Her home is battered but still standing, a testament to her refusal to leave. Despite the relentless bombing, she continues to return after every evacuation order.

When she heard the news of Sinwar’s death, her reaction was one of muted surprise. “I was genuinely shocked,” she says. “But I believed it right away, even though we often wonder if it’s just another lie from the occupying forces.” 

For Rudina, the news brought no immediate sense of grief or relief. It was not a moment of triumph nor a moment of sorrow. Instead, it felt like the natural conclusion to something that had been long in the making. “In the end, I feel like Sinwar met his fate,” she reflects. “People accused him for years of throwing us into battles we couldn’t win, but now that he’s gone, maybe those accusations will finally quiet.”

For many in Gaza, Sinwar represented both the strength and the tragedy of the Palestinian struggle. He was a man who fought with conviction, but violence and devastation also partly defined his leadership.

Many others share Rudina’s feelings. While acknowledging the suffering brought upon Gaza during his leadership, they also feel that his death is unlikely to change the situation. “I thought his death might help speed up discussions, force a real change,” she says. “But now that he’s gone, I see that this ruthless enemy won’t stop because of his death.”

“What Will Happen to Us?”

In Gaza’s Mawasi area, Dina Hijazi, displaced from her home in northern Gaza, lives in a tent with her family. Like many in the Strip, she has experienced displacement multiple times. Her home in northern Gaza’s Be’er al-Naja is now rubble.

She first heard the news of Sinwar’s death as rumors spread through the makeshift camp. The reaction was swift and full of uncertainty. “The news hit like a lightning bolt,” she recalls. “We wondered, is this really true? Or is it just another story from the Israeli occupation? And then the question: What will happen to us after all of this?”

For Dina, the question of whether Sinwar’s death could bring an end to the war is a complicated one. “If Israel’s problem was only with Sinwar, maybe his death would help stop the war,” she reflects. “But Israel’s problem isn’t with Sinwar. Their problem is with every Palestinian who breathes and every Arab who speaks.”

“We Lost a Whole Family”

Over time, Dina’s view of Sinwar shifted. Before his death, she was critical of his role in Gaza’s devastation. “If you’d asked me before he was killed, I might have said he wasn’t a hero, and that the real heroes were us, the people,” she admits.

Yet, seeing Sinwar fight until the end, she began to look at him differently. “He wasn’t the cause of Gaza’s destruction,” she says. “He fought like no one else has fought.”

Dina has suffered more than most. She has lost not only her home but also many of the people closest to her. “We lost two of our granddaughters — one was martyred, and the other died because we couldn’t get her the medicine she needed,” she says. “We were waiting for the border crossing, but we didn’t make it in time.”

He wasn’t the cause of Gaza’s destruction.

Her entire family, displaced and scattered, has faced the unthinkable. “We lost a whole family of in-laws — 20 people — and only two daughters survived.”

For Dina, the cost of the conflict has been far too high, and Sinwar’s death, while significant, does little to bring her hope. “The only wish I have is for the war to stop. We need a chance to stop living in fear, to grieve for the ones we’ve lost.”

“A Reckless Gamble”

Omar Abed Rabbo, a 30-year-old writer from northern Gaza, now lives in Nuseirat refugee camp. He remembers the confusion and disbelief that followed the announcement of Sinwar’s death. “It was a shock because everything felt normal, and the possibility of finding him wasn’t expected, especially not in that location,” he recalls. 

Many in Gaza believed the news was a mistake or that the man killed was simply a look-alike. But as the confirmation came through, the atmosphere shifted.

For Omar, Sinwar’s death brings mixed emotions. On one hand, there is relief. “There’s a general feeling of relief because his death could mark a new stage, maybe even lead to a permanent ceasefire,” he says. But on the other hand, there is deep frustration with the choices that led Gaza into its current state of devastation. Omar sees the decision to engage in the war on Oct. 7 as a grave mistake. “It was a reckless gamble,” he says. “Hamas did not properly account for the severity of Israel’s response.”

The cost has been catastrophic. Gaza is in ruins, and Omar is not optimistic about a quick resolution. “I expect Israel to continue the war for at least another year in its efforts to free hostages and achieve its objectives,” he says.

Hope for Peace

In Deir al-Balah, 21-year-old media student Lamia Othman, displaced from Bureij refugee camp, continues her studies amid the chaos of war. For her, Sinwar’s death is a significant moment, but not one that will determine the future of the conflict. “The decision to stop or continue the war doesn’t depend on the death of one leader but on a complex mix of local, regional, and international factors,” she explains. 

Still, she believes that while some may see his death as an opportunity for peace, others will push for continued military action.

Echoing Omar, Lamia says the Oct. 7 attack that initiated the current phase of the conflict was a “reckless gamble” that has led to Gaza’s destruction. “We need to reach a negotiating table and come to an agreement that allows us to live in peace and security,” she says, her voice tinged with the weariness of someone too young to have known anything but war.

Her hope for the future is simple but profound. “I hope this war ends soon, that people can return to their homes, and that we achieve a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” she says. “We deserve to live like the rest of the world, without the constant weight of occupation on our shoulders.”

Israel Escalates War Beyond Gaza

Despite the death of the claimed mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, the conflict has only escalated. Far from signaling the war’s end, his assassination seems to have further fueled Israel’s military efforts. Israeli forces continue to bombard Gaza. To date, the violence has killed more than 42,000 people.

Meanwhile, Israel has expanded operations into southern Lebanon, where its forces are targeting Hezbollah, Iran’s key ally. As the conflict broadens, Israeli airstrikes have pummeled much of Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue Israel’s campaign with “full force,” signaling that this conflict may continue for months or years.

As Gaza continues to reel under the weight of the violence, the death of Yahya Sinwar marks a turning point — but no one can yet say whether it will lead to peace or more suffering. For the people of Gaza, the war is far from over, and the hope for an end to the bloodshed feels more distant with each passing day.

Top photo: A photo published on March 10, 2024, shows a scene of destruction after an Israeli airstrike on a tower in Gaza City (Emad El Byed/Unsplash)

Mohammed Ali*

*Mohammed Ali is a journalist from Gaza. He writes under a pseudonym to protect his identity.

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