Yahya Sinwar’s wife was spotted with Rs 26 lakh Hermes Birkin Bag in Gaza tunnel.
A new CCTV footage of former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli operation in southern Gaza last week, has been released by Israel.
Yahya Sinwar was spotted walking inside a tunnel with his wife and children, hours before the deadly October 7 attack on Israel last year.
The ex Hamas leader was carrying pillows, mattresses, television, and bags inside the tunnel located under their family in Khan Younis.
While, his wife was seen carrying a Hermes bag, which Israel claims is worth $32,000.
Israel’s claim
Israel said, “Yahya Sinwar’s wife was caught sneaking to the tunnels the night before the October 7 attack,” claiming she was carrying a Hermes Birkin bag worth $32,000 (Rs 26.88 lakh).
“While Gazans endured hardship under Hamas, Sinwar and his family were shamelessly living in luxury, indulging while sending others to die,” Israel said.
Israel shared a screengrab from the video, where Sinwar’s wife holds a bag.
In a not-so-clear picture, the design on the bag ‘appears to be similar’ to the Hermes Birkin 40 Black Togo Gold Hardware edition.
The Palestinian resistance group is yet to respond to Israel’s claim.
The footage was released following Sinwar’s death in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in an armour-infantry assault.
Intelligence-based operation
Israel’s 828th Brigade conducted “intelligence-based targeted raids and operations,” the Israel Defence Forces said, giving details of the damage assessment, where they found assault rifles and snipers in the hideout and Sinwar’s body.
Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari showed photos of the underground compound with toilets, showers, and a kitchen. Food, cash, and documents were also found there.
Sinwar died heroically
Hamas, meanwhile, said Sinwar died heroically engaging in battle, calling Hagar’s remarks “blatant lies”.
Earlier this week, a drone footage showed Sinwar badly wounded in his last moments, throwing a stick at the drone.
Autopsy of Sinwar
The autopsy found that Sinwar was killed by a gunshot to the head, and also found one of his fingers was cut off.
During a year of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israel Defence Forces had often closed in on Sinwar, but the latter managed to escape.
DNA test
Israel had identified Sinwar’s final hiding after the military found “his DNA sample on a tissue with which he blew his nose,” said Hagari.
Yahya Sinwar was the architect of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in which over 1,200 people were killed, resulting in a year-long Israeli operation in Gaza, killing over 40,000 including children.
