The Video of Yahya Sinwar Wandering in Gaza’s Streets Is Outdated
The Claim
Yahya Sinwar roaming in the streets of Gaza.
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Recently, social media users have been circulating a video clip claiming to depict Yahya Sinwar appearing in the streets of Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it to be misleading. The video clip is old and does not depict Yahya Sinwar during the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.
Yahya Sinwar’s Release From Israeli Occupation Prisons in 2011
The video footage dates back to October 18, 2011, capturing the moment Yahya Sinwar arrived in the Gaza Strip after his release by Israeli occupation authorities as part of a prisoner exchange deal at the time.
The Prisoner Exchange Deal Between Hamas and Israel in 2011
In 2011, Israeli authorities released Yahya Sinwar as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, named 'Wafa Al-Ahrar' by the movement at the time, following an agreement brokered by Egypt. The deal involved the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for Hamas handing over the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas transferred the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to Egypt, which then facilitated his transfer to Israel. Meanwhile, convoys of released Palestinian prisoners headed to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, had captured the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on June 25, 2006, following an attack on an Israeli military post on the border of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. Shalit remained in captivity with the Al-Qassam Brigades for more than 5 years until Hamas released him in 2011 as part of the exchange deal.
Sources Indicate That Sinwar Is Inspecting Combat Sites During the Ongoing War
The claim circulated shortly after news reports emerged, indicating that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, had inspected combat sites during the ongoing Israeli war.
A Hamas leadership source told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed newspaper on April 24 that Sinwar had inspected sites where clashes occurred between the resistance and the Israeli army. He met with Hamas fighters at these sites above ground, not in tunnels as Israel claims.
The source emphasized that Sinwar is not detached from reality. Despite the ongoing war and continuous Israeli intelligence operations, which persist throughout the day, he continues to carry out his work in the field, according to the sources.
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