Yahya Sinwar’s bunker in Gaza: Cash, personal shower, UN ration supplies and more

Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel recently, had been hiding in a well-equipped bunker in Gaza’s Khan Younis, stocked with UN food supplies, large amounts of cash, perfume, personal shower and other facilities, according to a video circulated by Israeli officials.

The footage, believed to be from February, shows an IDF soldier, face masked, walking through what appears to be a residential building, revealing kitchen supplies, stocks of aid distributed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), along with “millions of dollars” in cash.

Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel, spent the early part of the war in the bunker before fleeing to Rafah. The Hamas leader, who rose to power after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and became one of Israel’s primary targets, was killed in an Israeli military operation on October 16.

“Hamas’ eliminated leader Yahya Sinwar was hiding in this underground tunnel months ago: Surrounded by UNRWA bags of humanitarian aid, weapons and millions of dollars in cash. He hid like a coward underground, using the civilians of Gaza as human shields,” an X handle, managed by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, wrote, sharing the video.

The same video was also shared by top Israeli officials, including the Ambassador and Director of the Digital Diplomacy Bureau, David Saranga.

In the video, an IDF soldier explained that Yahya Sinwar fled the bunker when the Israeli Army pinpointed its location and decided to target it.

On Sunday, the Israeli Army released another video showing Yahya Sinwar walking through a bunker, a day before the October 7 attack. The footage, according to Israeli officials, shows the Hamas leader walking with bags and supplies in hand, accompanied by his family. According to Israel, Sinwar’s wife was carrying an expensive handbag worth USD 32,000 (around Rs 27 lakh) while fleeing into the tunnel.

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