New footage captures Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar throwing stick at drone before being killed by Israel

Footage released by the Israeli Defence Forces reveals Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar making a last-ditch attempt to save his life just moments before he was killed. In the footage, Sinwar who was one of the key faces behind the October 7 attack, could be seen throwing a stick at an Israeli drone moments before he was killed in southern Gaza. The video showed Sinwar slumped in a chair, covered in dust, as the drone hovered nearby.

The video emerged following a year-long manhunt that concluded with a gun battle on Wednesday. Israeli forces initially did not realise they had located Sinwar. As Israeli military officials detailed, the operation that led to his demise was not a planned airstrike, but rather an engagement by infantry soldiers from the Bislach Brigade, who were operating in the Tal El Sultan area, where they believed senior Hamas members were present.


Also read: Yahya Sinwar’s death- Is it the 'beginning of the end' for Hamas?

During the encounter, the troops engaged three suspected militants, prompting a firefight that forced Sinwar into a derelict building. Israeli forces subsequently targeted the structure with tank shells and a missile. In the aftermath, the drone footage revealed Sinwar, wounded and dishevelled, as he futilely attempted to knock down the drone with a stick. Initial identification of Sinwar as a combatant was confirmed later through dental records and DNA testing.



Hamas has yet to officially respond to Sinwar's death, but sources within the group have acknowledged its likelihood. The Israeli military highlighted that extensive operations conducted over the past year had severely limited Sinwar’s movement, forcing him into increasingly desperate measures. In his final days, he reportedly ceased using telephones, believing this would aid in evading Israeli intelligence.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, head of Israel's military, noted that Sinwar's actions reflected a fugitive's lifestyle, as he changed locations frequently. While there were concerns he might use hostages as human shields, no captives were found in the vicinity during the operation.

Also read: Chance or precise planning: How Israel found and killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar?