Why did the rat hide in southern Gaza?
London-based Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reveals new information about the final days of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before he was killed by Israel.
Israel Today
Oct 20, 2024
Sinwar is identified by an IDF drone moments before he was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah
According to the newspaper, the rat had no other choice but to escape to the surface, as the entire tunnel system had by that time been bombed by Israeli forces. Additionally, the report states that Sinwar had almost no one left whom he could trust, forcing him to move from hideout to hideout wearing a mask or a keffiyeh.
Sinwar reportedly alternated between two adjacent houses in the Badr neighborhood of Tel al-Sultan in Rafah, near the Emirati Hospital. One house belonged to the Zuarub family, and the other to the Abu Tahe family. Only three people from his closest security circle were aware of his location. These houses were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, and Sinwar moved there just a few days before his death, even though Israeli forces were present in the Tel al-Sultan area.
According to the report, Sinwar and his two companions wrapped their faces in scarfs (keffiyeh), prompting the IDF to search the house where he was hiding to identify him. He wore the keffiyeh to avoid being recognized by both Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, who sent drones to suspicious houses to check if civilians or Hamas terrorists were inside.
Hamas sources told the newspaper that Sinwar and many other senior Hamas leaders switched between underground tunnels and above-ground hideouts depending on the security situation in the region during the war. Sinwar chose to stay above ground after Israel had killed several high-ranking Hamas leaders in heavy airstrikes on the tunnels. Initially, he stayed in tunnels, but when he realized that Israel was destroying them and limiting his escape options, he decided to surface.
Hamas sources claimed that Sinwar tried to mislead Israeli intelligence about his whereabouts to prevent his elimination and create the impression of victory. He only trusted two or three men with information about his movements, needs, and communication with Hamas leadership both domestically and abroad.
It was also reported that Sinwar and other Hamas leaders occasionally surrounded themselves with a small group of Israeli hostages as human shields, hoping to eventually negotiate a prisoner exchange with Israel. However, after Israel killed Ahmad Ghundour and Ayman Noufal in the tunnels, where Israeli hostages also died, it was decided that the hostages would be assigned to lower-ranking Hamas leaders.
According to Hamas, Sinwar was in the tunnels for entirely “normal” reasons, where the Israeli hostages were also held, and not, as the IDF claimed, to use them as human shields.
Why was Sinwar in Rafah, an area largely captured by the IDF? Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sinwar’s presence in this region reflected the difficult situation faced by Hamas leadership, as they were being relentlessly pursued by Israeli forces. Sinwar chose to flee with his men to a combat zone where Israeli troops were present, while other Hamas leaders preferred to hide in partially destroyed tunnels, making makeshift repairs. For instance, Rouhi Mushtaha, Sinwar’s right-hand man, was killed by Israeli soldiers in one of these tunnels.
In other words, the ongoing pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the targeted bombings of underground tunnels achieved their goal, driving the head of Hamas snake to the surface, where he was found and killed. His successor knows that he will be the next to meet his comrades in hell.
According to Hamas sources who spoke with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas will keep the identity of Sinwar’s successor a secret “to protect him from Israeli pursuit.” The newspaper mentioned five possible candidates to replace Yahya Sinwar:
- Mohammed Darwish – Chairman of Hamas’s Shura Council, known as the “man behind the scenes,” who has only recently appeared in official meetings. He lives abroad and is closely affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Khalil al-Hayya – Sinwar’s deputy, known as a hardliner. He led the negotiation team at various meetings and confirmed Sinwar’s death in a speech.
- Khaled Mashal – The 68-year-old Mashal is currently Hamas’s leader abroad and served as the chairman of Hamas’s political bureau from 1996 to 2017. Israel previously made unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Mashal.
- Mousa Abu Marzouk – A senior Hamas member abroad who led the political bureau from 1992 to 1995 while living in Amman. He was expelled from Jordan after returning from Iran in 1999. He later lived in Damascus and Cairo. His fortune is estimated at $2-3 billion.
- Mohammed Nazzal – A member of Hamas’s political bureau who is currently based abroad.
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