IDF Footage Shows Sinwar’s Family Preparing for Underground Luxury Stay Hours Before War
Controversy erupts as footage reveals Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s wife carrying a $32,000 Hermès Birkin bag, raising questions about the lifestyle of Gaza’s leaders during the ongoing conflict
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released footage showing the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar fleeing into a tunnel with his family on the night of October 6, 2023, just hours before the deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered a war that continues more than a year later.
The footage, unveiled by the IDF on Saturday, shows Sinwar and his family carrying extensive supplies, including food, water, and a television, as they moved into an underground complex in Khan Yunis, preparing for a long stay. The video has stirred controversy, particularly after viewers noticed Sinwar’s wife, Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar, carrying what appeared to be a $32,000 Hermès Birkin handbag, drawing attention to the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by Hamas leadership compared to the dire conditions faced by ordinary Gazans.
This is not the first time such footage has been released. In February 2024, the IDF published another video showing Sinwar and his family moving through tunnels below Khan Yunis. The military also provided a tour of the underground living quarters used by Sinwar, his family, and his security personnel. Their quarters included amenities such as a kitchen, beds, uniforms, safes filled with cash, and a fully functional living area, sharply contrasting with the war-torn conditions above ground.
The release of this latest video has sparked outrage, with many accusing Hamas leaders of exploiting Gaza’s civilians while they live in relative comfort. Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, commented on the controversy, saying, “While the people of Gaza do not have enough money for food, we see many examples of Yahya Sinwar and his wife’s special love for money.” The Hermès Birkin handbag, an iconic luxury item worth tens of thousands of dollars, has become a symbol of the stark disconnect between the wealth of Hamas leaders and the hardships of ordinary Gazans. Social media users were quick to point out the irony, with one user commenting, “Did not know that people in open-air prisons use Birkin bags,” and another joking, “Sinwar’s wife’s Birkin bag was SO last year. Literally a war crime.”
He only cared for his personal survival
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari revealed that on the night of October 6, 2023, hours before Hamas launched its assault on southern Israel, Sinwar and his family focused on their own survival. “For hours, they go up and down, stocking up on food, a television, and other products for a long stay. He [Sinwar] only cared for his personal survival,” Hagari said. He added that Sinwar’s escape underground while sending Hamas fighters to carry out the brutal attack exemplifies the leadership’s disregard for the lives of Gaza’s civilians, whom they use as human shields.
Sinwar, described as the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre, remained in hiding for much of the war that followed. Israeli officials had been narrowing down his location throughout the year, tracking his movements between Khan Yunis and Rafah. Despite several close encounters, including a February 2024 raid on his underground fortress, Sinwar managed to evade capture until November 2024, when he was killed in a firefight in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood.
The IDF confirmed Sinwar’s death after a routine patrol spotted him and two other Hamas operatives. Sinwar, who was initially not identified, split from the group and was targeted by Israeli forces. After a tank fired at the building where he was hiding, Sinwar attempted to fight back, throwing two grenades, one of which exploded. In his final moments, as a drone approached the room where he had taken cover, Sinwar threw a wooden stick at it in a symbolic gesture of defiance. He was ultimately killed by a gunshot to the head, an autopsy in Israel revealed.
The IDF released additional footage showing the tank fire on the building where Sinwar took cover and the tunnel complex where he had been living in recent months. The footage shows the luxurious living conditions in the tunnel, which featured sofas, beds, a television, and means of communication. Hagari noted that Sinwar’s DNA was found on a tissue recovered from the complex.
While Hamas supporters have attempted to portray Sinwar’s death as heroic, with some sharing footage of his final moments as a symbol of resistance, Israeli officials have emphasized that Sinwar lived and acted like a fugitive throughout the war. Hagari explained that “Sinwar lived and behaved like a wanted terrorist on the run,” noting that he had repeatedly moved from one hiding place to another to evade capture.
Sinwar’s death marks a significant blow to Hamas, but the group has vowed to continue its fight against Israel. Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy leader of Hamas’ Qatar-based political bureau, said in a statement that Israel would come to regret killing Sinwar, adding that his “martyrdom” would only strengthen the group’s resolve.
Negotiations over the release of 101 hostages still held in Gaza remain deadlocked. While Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism that Sinwar’s death might lead to a breakthrough, they warned that his brother, Muhammad Sinwar, who is expected to succeed him, is just as hard-line in his views. Hamas has stated that the hostages will not be released until Israel withdraws from Gaza and the war comes to an end.
As the war continues, Israeli forces have uncovered additional intelligence from letters found near Sinwar’s hiding place, including correspondence between the Hamas leader and his 10-year-old son, in which Sinwar attempts to instill a hatred of Israel in the child. Troops also recovered large sums of cash and valuable intelligence documents from Sinwar’s body.
Despite Sinwar’s death, the war rages on, with Hamas continuing to resist Israeli efforts to dismantle its military infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden have held talks on how to seize the opportunity presented by Sinwar’s elimination to secure the release of the hostages.
