Paul Adams
Diplomatic Correspondent, based in Tel Aviv

Image source, Getty Images

In Khan Younis, a significant backdrop has been established for the imminent transfer of hostages to the Red Cross, prominently featuring a striking poster.

The image depicts Yahya Sinwar, the former military head of Hamas, seated in a dusty red chair amidst destruction, gazing out through a broken wall— the very site of his demise from Israeli fire last October.

This stylized portrayal draws from the footage released by the Israeli military, presenting Sinwar in his final moments.

In this striking visual, he appears to be looking through the wall’s opening at a figure draped in the Palestinian flag, standing before Jerusalem’s revered Dome of the Rock.

This fusion of Palestinian symbols, both historical and contemporary, delivers a compelling message. The image conveys that Sinwar’s death was, in essence, a vital sacrifice in the broader struggle for national sovereignty.

An Israeli official reached out to express their concerns, stating that releasing footage of Sinwar’s death could be a strategic error.

“It elevated him to an almost legendary standing,” they remarked.

These sentiments, alongside the now-familiar images of heavily armed fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad at yet another hostage handover, reflect a deliberate strategy by these armed groups to assert their continued influence and presence.