Yahya Sinwar Hamas key figure‚ has died in a clash with Israeli forces in Gaza. The 61-year-old was a main planner of the Oct 7 2023 attack that started the current conflict
Born in a Gaza refugee camp Sinwar joined Hamas early on. He spent years in Israeli jails where he learned Hebrew and studied his enemy. After his release in a prisoner swap‚ he became Hamas leader in Gaza
The Oct 7 attack killed about 1200 people mostly civilians. Israels response has been harsh – over 42000 Palestinians have died and Gaza is in ruins. Many are now homeless and hungry
Sinwar was both feared and respected. He ran Gaza with an iron fist but stayed there unlike other Hamas leaders who lived abroad. He was known as the “Butcher of Khan Younis“ for his cruel treatment of suspected collaborators
The conflict has grown bigger. Hezbollah got involved‚ Israel invaded Lebanon again‚ and Iran and Israel traded fire for the first time. This raised fears of an even bigger war
In prison Sinwar was seen as smart and social. He wrote a novel and organized strikes for better conditions. But he was also brutal – he once made a man bury his brother alive for working with Israel
His eyes were full of happiness when he told us this story
Sinwar got out of jail in 2011 in a swap for an Israeli soldier. He then worked to bring Hamas closer to Iran. In 2017 he became Hamas political leader in Gaza
His death might change how the war goes on. But the conflict he helped start has already caused so much damage‚ its hard to know what will happen next