The Middle East crisis • The Gaza war

Death of Hamas leader Sinwar hailed: "An example"

In a clip released by Israel's military, the badly injured Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, with his last strength, can be seen throwing a stick at the drone filming him. Now his last moment in life is being celebrated by some Palestinians as well as Iran, several media reports.

The drone filmed Sinwar on Wednesday as he sat in a chair in a bombed-out building. The fact that Sinwar fought above ground, without the protection of hostages, means that he is now seen as a hero by some.

- This is the path of every warrior, says Gaza doctor Ziad Maqdad, 65, to NBC News. He adds that the manner in which Sinwar died is "a great honor to this distinguished leader".

- He will be an example for children and young people in the fight for the liberation of Palestine, writes Iran's UN ambassador on X.

Far from all Palestinians see Sinwar as a hero, and many believe his terror tactics were counterproductive.

...................................

Flyer over Gaza: Free ride if hostages are helped

The Israeli military has released leaflets in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza in which they promise a free ride to anyone who lays down their arms - and helps return the hostages to Israel, writes CNN.

The flyers feature a picture of the dead Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's body surrounded by rubble.

“Sinwar ruined your lives. He hid in a dark hole and was eliminated when he fled in panic," it says, followed by the fact that Hamas will no longer rule Gaza.

About 100 hostages are still being held captive in Gaza, but a third of them are believed to be dead.

........................................

Analysis: Huge damage to Hamas despite rhetoric of martyrdom

Hamas tries to frame the killing of the leader Yahya Sinwar as a victory - but the losses are significantly greater and the militia is seriously weakened, writes The Guardian's Jason Burke in an analysis.

Now Hamas must either appoint a new leader or do what Hezbollah did after the death of Hassan Nasrallah: leave the post empty. Moreover, support abroad is crucial for Hamas and the many divisions that exist within the organization risk widening as regional powers integrate to promote their own interests.

"Observers close to the organization say it has 'ceased to exist' in any semblance of its former form and will therefore need decades to rebuild."

DN's Emma Bouvin writes in an analysis that the manner in which Sinwar was killed may arouse a "new, unexpected wave of resistance". A new narrative began to take shape after Israel released a film on Sinwar's last days; he did not hide in any tunnel or surround himself with human shields.

Certainly, many hated Sinwar because he was prepared to sacrifice tens of thousands of civilian lives in the fight against Israel, "but if he was killed as he appears to have been, it could light a new fire," she writes.