Yahya Ibrahim al-Sinwar was an exemplary leader and a fearless commander. He was deeply committed to the freedom of his homeland — Palestine, Quds and Al-Aqsa Masjid. He stood as an unyielding wall against the oppressor. He never bowed to the enemy's power. He confronted the enemy on every front with unwavering determination. He became a symbol of resistance in the modern era. Al-Sinwar was adept at responding to his enemies. They sought to label him as a coward in various ways, however, the people saw that he was not a coward. Whenever he called his people to resistance, always he led from the front. He fearlessly battled the occupying forces like a lion, inspiring his subordinates through his leadership. Al-Sinwar embodied the spirit of resistance against the occupying Zionist state, which feared him greatly. He was at the top of its most-wanted list.
When the recent war was at its peak, the Arab mediators offered him a chance to go to Egypt with his family safety. However, he rejected this offer, choosing instead to stay on the battlefield within the Gaza Strip. He opted to resist the occupying enemy, valuing the freedom of Al-Aqsa Masjid, Quds and his homeland Palestine far more than his own life. A gifted orator, he once said in a speech: "If we fear death, we fear dying in our beds, like a camel. We fear dying in a road accident, from a stroke, or a heart attack. But we do not fear dying for our religion, our homeland and our sacred sites. Our blood and lives are no more precious than the blood of any innocent young martyr who has already left this world." The world witnessed his courage as he bravely fought the enemy for his religion, homeland and sacred sites, ultimately embracing martyrdom. He didn’t just speak these words — he lived them, proving his commitment through actions.
Yahya Sinwar, a true leader, was martyred on October 16, 2024, while bravely fighting the occupying Israeli forces in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. His martyrdom was a source of honour for him. Despite being wounded, he refused to surrender and continued his battle against the enemy. He gave his life for the protection of sacred Islamic sites and the sovereignty of his homeland. He remained steadfast in front of the occupying forces until his final breath, having dedicated his life to the freedom and independence of Palestine. While his enemies and some of the world’s major powers celebrated his martyrdom, they likely believed that with the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, Hamas would be rendered powerless. Consequently, they demanded that Hamas release the kidnaped prisoners. However, no one pressured the Zionist state to halt its bombing or end the war. Hamas, demonstrating courage, refused to comply with these demands. At that time, Hamas made it clear that no talks on prisoner release would occur until Israel stopped its attacks on Gaza and withdrew its forces.
The occupying Zionist state had falsely claimed that Sinwar was hiding in tunnels, desperately trying to save his life. They accused him of using captive prisoners and ordinary civilians as human shields, while his forces fought on the battlefield. However, a video released by the occupying forces at the time of his martyrdom shattered these claims, revealing Sinwar's true bravery and fearlessness. He was not hiding in tunnels nor using civilians as shields. Instead, he stood above ground, fully armed with an AK-47, courageously leading his fighters on the front lines against the Zionist forces. His presence in the battlefield reflected his unshakable determination, courage and exemplary leadership. Sinwar did not betray his people. The feats he achieved will continue to inspire future generations. Through his martyrdom, he left the world with a powerful message of what true leadership is and how it should be carried out.
According to an American newspaper, Sinwar had said that if he were martyred, Israel would offer various proposals, but Hamas should never concede defeat. The members of Hamas took his words to heart and refused to give up. The fighters of al-Qassam remained resolute on the battlefield. In fact, Yahya Sinwar trained them so effectively that even after his martyrdom, they did not retreat a single step. They refused to make any compromises under pressure from the Zionist state. Instead, they continued to advance Hamas’s mission, bravely confronting the occupying Zionist forces. Israeli journalists who have been embedded with Israeli forces have made the point that Hamas operatives are returning to areas that were previously cleared by the IDF. The Zionist government's claims of eliminating Hamas have proven to be unsuccessful.
Yahya Sinwar endured hunger for several days, yet he never wavered in his resistance. He remained on the battlefield, steadfast in his commitment. After his martyrdom, his body was taken by the occupying Israeli forces. The Israeli doctors confirmed through DNA and other means that it was indeed Yahya Sinwar. His alleged post-mortem report revealed that, despite bravely confronting the Zionist forces, he had not eaten for three days. He continued to fight the enemies, hungry and thirsty, until his final breath.
Political Activism and Imprisonment:
Martyr Yahya Sinwar began his political journey around 1980 as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. From 1982 to 1988, he led numerous public protests against the Zionist government. In 1982, only at the age of 19, he was arrested by the Zionist state and spent six months in prison. In 1985, he was arrested again, and in February 1988, he was detained once more. During this time, he was sentenced to four life terms. From 1988 to 2011, Sinwar spent nearly 22 years behind bars. Throughout these 22 years, he was subjected to almost four years of solitary confinement. However, imprisonment did not diminish his resolve or courage. Even in jail, he continued to resist the Zionist government and never remained silent. He led multiple hunger strikes in protest against Israeli atrocities. While in prison, he learned Hebrew and regularly studied Israeli newspapers. On one occasion, he told an interrogator: “You know that one day you will be the one under interrogation, and I will stand here as the government, as the interrogator.”
Immediately after the founding of Hamas, the Zionist state infiltrated the organization by placing its agents within it. These agents provided Israeli intelligence with detailed reports on Hamas's activities and plans. Yahya Sinwar recognized this threat and informed the senior leadership of Hamas, proposing to establish an internal intelligence unit. The leadership agreed with his suggestion and assigned him the responsibility of creating the unit. Sinwar went on to establish Hamas's internal security unit, "Al-Majd" (Munazzamah Al-Jihad wal-Da'wah). Those familiar with the Palestinian issues know that Al-Majd played a pivotal role in Hamas’s success.
Sinwar’s Release from Zionist Prison:
In 2006, Hamas members launched an attack on a border checkpoint in Rafah, successfully capturing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. However, they did not immediately take responsibility for the capturing and remained silent. The Zionist state launched an extensive search for him, but when they failed to find him, they declared him dead. Then, in October 2009, Hamas revealed that Shalit was alive and in their custody. The Israeli government demanded proof of his survival. After negotiations between both sides, a brief video of Shalit was released, confirming that he was indeed alive and in Hamas’s hands. In exchange for this video, Israel had to release 19 Palestinian women from Israeli prisons. This set the stage for further negotiations, and in 2011, an agreement was reached between Hamas and the Zionist state. Under this agreement, Israel released 1,026 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit’s return. Among those freed was also Yahya al-Sinwar.
In 2012, Yahya Sinwar was elected as a member of Hamas's Political Bureau. In 2013, he was assigned responsibility for military affairs. In September 2015, he was placed on the global terrorists' list. In February 2017, Sinwar was elected as the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Following the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, he became the head of Hamas's Political Bureau in August 2024. While holding this position, he continued to fight courageously against the Zionist forces, and on 16th October 2024, he was martyred in the Tel Sultan area of Rafah.
Yahya Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar Abu Ibrahim’s ancestors were from the city of Majdal (Asqalan). In 1948, when the Zionists escalated their oppression and took control of the city, his ancestors were forced to migrate and sought refuge in the refugee camp in Khan Younis. Sinwar was born on 29th October 1962 in the same refugee camp in Khan Younis. At the time, Gaza was under Egyptian administration. He memorized the Glorious Qur’an and completed his secondary education at Khan Younis Secondary School. He then enrolled at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he also served as president of the student council. Sinwar graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Arabic Language and Literature from the same University.
Martyr Sinwar was not only skilled with the sword and spear fighting in the battlefield, but also a celebrated writer and orator. During his seven years of imprisonment, he enrolled in nearly fifteen courses at the "Open University of Israel" and pursued studies, many of which were related to the history. He authored several books, including a novel titled Al-Shawk wa Al-Qaranful (Thorns and Carnations), which he wrote while in prison. In this novel, he captures the pain of the Palestinian people. He wrote about it: "This is not my personal story, nor the story of any specific individual. However, all the events are real. Each event, or combination of events, relates to this Palestinian or that Palestinian. The only fictional element is that it is presented as a novel, revolving around particular characters." He also translated the Hebrew autobiography of the chief of Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency) into Arabic to raise awareness of his ideology and methods among the people.
In 2011, after his release from the Israeli prison, at the age of nearly 49, Sinwar got married. Allah blessed him with two sons, Ibrahim and Abdullah, and a daughter. May Allah grant the martyr Yahya Sinwar a place in Jannat al-Firdous! Ameen! ∎∎∎∎