Displaced Palestinian Shocked to Discover Former Hamas Leader Killed in His Home
A displaced Palestinian from Gaza, Ashraf Abo Taha, was left stunned after discovering that the house where former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces was his home for 15 years before he had to flee in May.
In an interview with BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline, Mr. Abo Taha expressed his shock as he identified the partially destroyed building in Israeli drone footage as his former residence on Ibn Sena street in Rafah, southern Gaza. He had left his home in Rafah for Khan Younis on 6 May during the Israeli operation against Hamas fighters.
Mr. Abo Taha’s daughter first showed him the footage capturing Sinwar’s last moments on social media, claiming it depicted their house in Rafah. Initially skeptical, he was later convinced by his brother that the house was indeed theirs.
The BBC verified that pictures and videos provided by Mr. Abo Taha of his home matched imagery of the house where Sinwar was killed. The analysis compared and matched images of the home’s window archways, external decorations on doorways, shelves, and armchairs from the footage.
Mr. Abo Taha described his home in Rafah, which he had built himself with the help of his siblings, as a place filled with memories and precious belongings. He lamented the loss of his home and belongings, expressing deep sadness over the destruction.
The Israeli assault on Rafah in May, which led to the exodus of more than a million Palestinians, received strong international criticism. Many Palestinians were forced to move multiple times due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Mr. Abo Taha’s story sheds light on the human impact of the conflict in Gaza and the devastating consequences it has on innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. The loss of his home serves as a poignant reminder of the toll of war on individuals and families in the region.
