Yahya Sinwar didn't eat anything for three days before his martyrdom: report

Former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was martyred while resisting Israeli forces in Gaza, reportedly went without food for three days, according to Israeli media.

A Hebrew-language news website, citing Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat and Hamas officials, reported that Sinwar and his companion endured three days of hunger while actively engaged in combat against the occupation forces.

The report also noted that Sinwar had communicated with his family two days before his death, informing them of his cousin Ibrahim Muhammad Sinwar’s martyrdom.

Israeli media further stated that the 62-year-old resistance fighter was aware that the occupation army was closing in on him but chose to remain above ground to continue his resistance.

Hamas' political bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, was killed in October during an IDF military operation in Rafah.

The video, filmed by an Israeli drone, depicted Sinwar injured and sitting on a sofa in a destroyed house. Wearing a keffiyeh and a mask over his face, Sinwar made a last attempt to resist by throwing an object at the drone.

Israeli media confirmed his death on October 18, with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) later verifying his identity through DNA testing.

Sinwar, born in the Khan Younis refugee camp, joined Hamas in 1987 and became one of Israel's most wanted figures.

After spending 23 years in Israeli prisons for planning alleged armed activities, he was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

Often described as the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks on Israeli military bases, Sinwar became the leader of Hamas following the death of former chief Ismail Haniyeh in July 2024.

He advocated for a unified Palestinian state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.