If there’s one thing you can count on in the chaotic world of Middle East politics, it’s that opinions can turn on a dime. And nowhere is this more evident than in the recent reappraisal of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader killed by Israeli forces after orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Sinwar’s death, particularly its dramatic circumstances, has reignited a complex and sometimes bizarre conversation about his legacy, both in Gaza and the wider Arab world.
When Streets Turn Scornful
Imagine living under a constant rain of bombs, your home reduced to rubble, and your government is a terrorist group entangled in international politics. Gaza’s residents, understandably, have been through the wringer. Mustafa Muhammed, a displaced Palestinian, saw firsthand the shifting attitudes towards Sinwar in the aftermath of Israel’s retaliation. People who were initially scornful of Sinwar’s leadership had, until his death, become openly critical. After all, when your only home is a tent, and the person in charge seems like they’ve painted a massive target on your back, a little frustration is natural, right?
But then came the shocking news: Sinwar, far from hiding like a fugitive, was killed in action. Not in a safe bunker or while making a run for it, but in the south of the Gaza Strip. He went down fighting—or at least trying to take down a drone with a piece of wood.
A Leader’s Final Moments
Now, in the age of social media, nothing remains a mystery for long. Israel released footage showing Sinwar critically injured, wounded arm and all, attempting to hurl a chunk of debris at an Israeli surveillance drone. The guy was clearly in bad shape, yet his apparent last stand seemed to resonate with many Palestinians and Arabs who had previously written him off. One minute, he was public enemy number one, and the next, he became something of a martyr. Muhammed noted the sudden shift in sentiment: “It showed he was fighting until the very end.”
While that piece of footage was an unexpected plot twist in Sinwar’s story, it seems to have done more to bolster his reputation in the Arab world than months of political maneuvering ever could.
Sinwar’s Controversial Legacy
Before we get all misty-eyed about Sinwar’s final moments, let’s not forget that this man wasn’t exactly a choir boy. In fact, the U.S. labeled him a terrorist. Convicted of multiple murders, he didn’t just orchestrate attacks on Israel—he also targeted Palestinians he considered traitors. After serving time in Israeli prisons, Sinwar was released in a prisoner exchange and quickly resumed his role in Hamas’s leadership, where he continued to divide opinion.
A survey taken in September 2023 by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research revealed that only 29% of Gazans were satisfied with Sinwar. Yet, after his death, many seem to be reconsidering their stance. Death has a funny way of sanitizing legacies, doesn’t it?
A Region in a Bind
Here’s where things get really complicated. The death of Sinwar has put several key U.S. allies in the Middle East—namely Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt—in a pretty tight spot. These governments have never been fans of Hamas, let alone its ties to Iran, and have occasionally gone as far as labeling it a terrorist group. Yet, many of their citizens feel differently.
Mouin Rabbani, a fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, perfectly sums up the regional conundrum: “The people’s attitudes toward their governments have been, ‘You haven’t been able to achieve anything through diplomacy, while movements like Hamas are causing Israel grief.’”
Translation? Arab governments are playing a dangerous game of “let’s not upset anyone,” while their citizens are increasingly frustrated by their leaders’ lack of results on the Palestinian issue.
Different Reactions to the Same Event
Take Iran, for example. True to form, the country has turned Sinwar into a hero, practically lionizing the man. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier to see the back of him. Their media arm has been quick to label Sinwar a terrorist and celebrate his death, but this has only sparked protests—including vandalism at a Saudi channel’s office in Iraq. Meanwhile, Egypt and Jordan, both of which have diplomatic ties with Israel, have chosen to play the “silent but present” card, issuing no direct public statements.
The U.S. and European powers, predictably, have applauded Sinwar’s death, with President Biden calling it “a good day for Israel, the United States, and the world.” French President Macron, ever the diplomat, used the opportunity to push for a de-escalation of the conflict.
A Defiant Symbol
Sinwar’s posthumous rise to symbol status has less to do with last year’s attack on Israel—an event that left 1,200 dead—and more to do with his decision to stick around for the war, according to Nasser Alkidwa, a former Palestinian foreign minister. It was the fact that he stayed in Gaza, not orchestrating the conflict from a luxurious estate in Qatar or hiding out in Egypt. It’s easy to see why this resonated with many people. It was like a bad action movie, but with much higher stakes.
“The fact that he didn’t escape and was fighting has changed the way people see him,” Alkidwa explains. “It refutes the idea that he abandoned the people of Gaza.”
Drone Footage and Its Aftermath
The release of the drone footage showing Sinwar’s final moments has undeniably shifted public opinion. But in Israel, it’s a different story. Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator, believes Israel didn’t think through the potential consequences of releasing that footage. What was meant to showcase Israel’s military might ended up giving Palestinians—and much of the Arab world—a symbol of defiance. According to Baskin, the Israeli political system is oblivious to the message this sends to the Arab world.
From where I’m standing, it looks like Israel’s leadership is more interested in scoring domestic political points than in considering the broader implications of their actions. Netanyahu’s government seems to be focused on his political survival—“Look at me, I’m the hero who took down Sinwar!”—but in reality, the footage might have bolstered support for Hamas across the region.
My Take
It’s hard to ignore the irony in all of this. A leader like Sinwar, deeply divisive even among Palestinians, ends up being remembered as a martyr. His last act wasn’t a grand military victory but a desperate attempt to knock down a surveillance drone. Yet, in the eyes of many, that was enough. Isn’t it fascinating how public perception works? The man who was once scorned for dragging Gaza into war has become a symbol of resistance simply because he didn’t flee.
And while governments in the region tread carefully, trying not to get swept up in the tides of public opinion, they’re in a tough spot. The people want action, not diplomatic dithering, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that governments who ignore their citizens’ demands for too long tend to face the consequences.
The Uncertain Future
What’s next? Will Sinwar’s death trigger more protests across the region? Or will governments manage to keep a lid on things, maintaining the delicate balance between condemning terrorism and acknowledging their citizens’ support for the Palestinian cause?
One thing’s for sure: Sinwar’s death isn’t the end of the story. If anything, it has kicked off a new chapter, one that will likely see more political maneuvering, protests, and, unfortunately, more violence. But in the midst of it all, we’re reminded of just how fragile legacies can be, how quickly heroes can become villains, and vice versa.
With Sinwar gone, Gaza—and the broader Middle East—is left in a state of uncertainty. But if there’s one thing we can be certain about, it’s that the narrative surrounding his death will continue to evolve, shaping the region’s politics for years to come.