Yesterday evening, Thursday, the Israeli occupation army announced the assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, during a military operation in the Tel al-Sultan area in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing war, as Sinwar was a prominent leader in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the Israeli army and the Shin Bet announced, "Israeli forces in southern Gaza completed a year-long pursuit yesterday by eliminating Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. Over the past months, Israeli forces, in collaboration with the Shin Bet, conducted numerous operations that restricted Sinwar's movements, ultimately leading to his elimination." This statement highlights the extensive efforts made to track and target Sinwar, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's military campaign against Hamas leadership.
According to Hebrew media reports, Yahya Sinwar's death occurred by chance when Israeli soldiers detected the presence of armed individuals in the building where he was hiding, which led to a firefight. The unexpected encounter resulted in Sinwar being killed during the exchange of fire, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding his elimination as it appears to have been an unplanned outcome of the confrontation.
Passport Allegedly Belonging to Sinwar's Accomplice, as Reported by Israeli Media
Hours after the announcement of Sinwar's assassination, Israeli media began circulating images purportedly showing items found with Yahya Sinwar following his death. Among these items was a photo of a passport belonging to a Palestinian citizen named Hani Humeidan Suleiman Zourob. The passport details indicate that Zourob works as a teacher for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Pro-Israel accounts and pages on the X platform began sharing the image of Hani Zourob’s passport, alleging that he was Sinwar's bodyguard and had been accompanying him recently. Some claims suggested that Sinwar was carrying a forged passport, falsely identifying him as an employee of UNRWA.
Misbar Investigates Claims about Hani Zourob
Misbar investigated the Israeli claims circulating about Hani Zourob's passport following the announcement of Yahya Sinwar's assassination and discovered that they were misleading. The investigation revealed inconsistencies in the narrative presented by pro-Israel sources, prompting questions about the accuracy of the information being disseminated.
While searching social media for information on Hani Zourob, Misbar found a Facebook post from an account with the same name, where Zourob denied the claims made about him. He confirmed that he currently resides in Egypt and has no connection to the allegations being made.
Misbar’s review of the Facebook account’s photos confirmed that the individual in the posts matches the person in the passport photo circulated by Hebrew media. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the passport is old and expired.It was issued on May 28, 2012, and expiring on May 27, 2017.
According to the posts, the earliest photo shared by the account’s owner dates back to February 2013, just months after the passport was issued. This photo clearly shows facial features consistent with the individual in the passport.
The details in Hani Zourob’s passport and his Facebook account indicate that he is from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
This evidence reinforces the identification of Hani Zourob and casts further doubt on the allegations regarding his connection to Yahya Sinwar, highlighting the ongoing misinformation surrounding the assassination narrative.
Zourob Family in Rafah City
In addition, the Zourob family, from which Hani originates, resides in various neighborhoods within Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Since the onset of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the occupation forces have committed massacres against the family, targeting their homes in Rafah and resulting in numerous casualties among family members.
With the Israeli army claiming that it killed Sinwar during clashes in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, it raises the possibility that the passport was found near the site. Alternatively, there is speculation that the occupation may have deliberately placed it among Sinwar’s belongings to bolster its ongoing narrative linking UNRWA's activities to Hamas since the start of the war. This strategic manipulation of information highlights the broader tactics employed to shape perceptions during the war and raises questions about the authenticity of the claims made by the Israeli authorities.
Was the Passport in Yahya Sinwar’s Possession?
Upon reviewing the passport details, it seems unlikely that Sinwar had the passport in his possession or intended to use it to pose as a UNRWA employee. A closer look at the passport holder, Hani Zourob, reveals no resemblance to Sinwar, further underscoring the implausibility of the Israeli claims. Additionally, the clear age difference between the two individuals raises further doubts about the validity of the narrative being presented, suggesting that the connection between Zourob and Sinwar may have been fabricated to support a misleading agenda.
When the passport was issued in 2012, Hani Zourob was 29 years old (born on August 21, 1984, as indicated in the passport information), making him around 41 years old today. In contrast, Yahya Sinwar was born in 1962, meaning he is 62 years old and shows clear signs of aging.
UNRWA Denies Occupation Claims About One of Its Employees Dying Alongside Sinwar
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), categorically refuted the Israeli claims suggesting that one of the agency's staff members died alongside Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
In a post on his X account, Lazzarini wrote, "Once again, unchecked information is used to discredit UNRWA & its staff."
He added, "Earlier today, reports circulated on social and Israeli media that a UNRWA staff member was killed together with the Hamas leader in Gaza. I confirm that the staff member in question is alive. He currently lives in Egypt, where he traveled with his family in April through the Rafah border.”
Lazzarini concluded the post by stating, "It’s time to put an end to disinformation campaigns."
Meanwhile, Palestinian accounts on X published additional documents related to Hani Zourob, including his new passport issued in April 2024 and a travel document confirming his exit from Gaza to Egypt in the same month.
Israeli Allegations About UNRWA
The Israeli allegations have emerged amidst a backdrop of persistent accusations from the occupation concerning UNRWA's purported involvement with armed organizations in Gaza. These claims have fueled tensions and raised concerns about the agency's humanitarian operations, further complicating the already challenging environment for aid delivery in the Strip.
Misbar has previously scrutinized numerous misleading Israeli claims regarding UNRWA, with international reports consistently refuting these allegations. Notably, a report by the Independent Review Committee highlighted that Israeli authorities had failed to present compelling evidence linking UNRWA employees to armed organizations.
The committee affirmed that Israel has accused numerous UNRWA employees of having ties to terrorist organizations but "has not provided supporting evidence for these claims." The report further emphasized that UNRWA is "indispensable and vital for the human and economic development of the Palestinians." This statement reinforces the crucial role UNRWA plays in delivering essential services and support to the Palestinian population, particularly in times of crisis.
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