Inside the bunker of the former head of Hamas Yahya Sinwar

New Delhi:

The Israeli military has released images of what it says is former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s bunker, which it occupied during the first half of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Sinwar, known as the mastermind behind the brutal October 7 attacks, was allegedly ready to walk away from the war with a stash of cash, cologne and personal amenities in a fully stocked bunker beneath the devastated city of Khan Younis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared video footage detailing the interior of Sinwar’s underground hideout. The video shows a well-equipped bunker, with modern showers, several bathrooms and a fully functional kitchen, with food rations labeled with the UNRWA logo.

Sinwar, 61, had taken refuge in the bunker with his guards and close aides as the war on the ground escalated. The footage shows a bag of food supplied by UNRWA, reinforcing Israel’s long-standing accusation that Hamas steals from international agencies, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The IDF has released footage showing its entry into the Sinwar bunker, where UNWRA bags and millions of shekels were found.

Sinwar and other Hamas leaders have been siphoning off billions from the people of Gaza, allegedly with @UNWRAthe involvement of.

pic.twitter.com/ZRcr5UWKmF

— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) October 20, 2024

The bunker contained several bottles of cologne, toiletries and even a private shower. According to an IDF soldier who toured the bunker, Sinwar’s personal quarters included a large safe filled with millions of Israeli shekels.

Next to the bunker door, the soldiers found lockers full of weapons, ammunition and explosives.

Sinwar had fled the bunker before the IDF could capture him. Reports suggest that Sinwar initially stayed in Khan Younis before being forced to flee further south to Rafah as the Israeli army closed in on his position. It was in Rafah that Sinwar’s luck finally ran out. Last Thursday, Israeli soldiers killed him in a strike during what they described as a “routine operation.” The IDF initially believed they had encountered another Hamas fighter before later identifying Sinwar as one of the victims.

According to Israeli sources, Sinwar had spent much of the war hiding underground, directing Hamas operations and trying to evade capture. Sinwar’s wife, Abu Zamar, was carrying a 28 lakh ($32,000) Hermes Birkin bag during her escape.

After months of searching, Sinwar’s fate was sealed when an IDF patrol encountered him in Rafah. Cornered and injured in a collapsed building, Sinwar was captured on drone footage in his final moments. The video showed Sinwar, covered in dust and with a badly injured hand, throwing an object, believed to be a stick, at an approaching Israeli drone.

An Israeli autopsy confirmed that Sinwar died of a gunshot wound to the head.