October 7, 2023... Hamas fighters wreaked havoc in Israel. They arrived using gliders and bikes, breached border fences, and invaded Israel, killing 1,200 people. Over 150 Israelis were taken as hostages in an assault akin to 9/11 on the ground. The brain behind all these horrific events was Yahya Sinwar.
Yahya Sinwar orchestrated and executed this sinister plan, leaving even Israel's closest ally, the United States, shocked and speechless. Sinwar became a symbol of brutality, shaking the world in one fell swoop. Among the 1,200 victims, 40 were American citizens. Let us dive into everything about Yahya Sinwar...
Source: aajtak
Parents Fled Ashkelon During Palestinian Nakba
Yahya Sinwar was born in 1962 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza. His parents were expelled from Ashkelon by the Israeli army during the 1948 Palestinian Nakba. At the time of Yahya's birth, Khan Yunis was under Egyptian control. The Nakba saw a massive loss of Arab lives.
Created Hamas' Ruthless Al Majd Internal Security Team
In the 1980s, Sinwar was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a student at Gaza's Islamic University. He was detained during protests. It was he who established Hamas's internal security unit, Al Majd, which dealt with Hamas's internal security matters, conducting investigations and punishing adversaries mercilessly, whether they were Israeli agents or Palestinian collaborators.
Source: aajtak
How Yahya Sinwar Became the 'Butcher of Khan Yunis'
Sinwar didn't stop there. He went on to form Hamas' most feared brigade, Al-Qassam—the military wing, and Gaza’s largest militia group. In 1988, Sinwar was arrested by Israeli forces, accused of killing 12 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers, acts that led to him being labeled the 'Butcher of Khan Yunis.'
Imprisoned in Israel for 22 Years and Then Released...
After spending 22 years in various Israeli prisons, Sinwar was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Gaza. He rejoined Hamas, became its leader in 2017, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, and later became the chief of the political bureau. Sinwar continued to procure funding and arms for Hamas abroad and forged alliances with nations and entities displeased with Israel.
