Reuters: Gazans Revere Sinwar's Defiant End - 'How Heroes Die'

For one Gazan father, Yahya Sinwar's death in battle trying to beat back a drone with a stick was "how heroes die." For others, it was an example for future generations even as some lamented the ruinous cost of the war he sparked with Israel.

Sinwar, the architect of Hamas' deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, was killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with Israeli forces after a year-long manhunt, and his death was announced on Thursday.

A video of some of his final minutes, showing him masked and wounded in a shell-smashed apartment trying to hurl a stick at a drone filming him inspired pride among Palestinians.

"He died a hero, attacking not fleeing, clutching his rifle, and engaging against the occupation army at the front line," a Hamas statement mourning Sinwar's death said.

In the statement, Hamas vowed his death would only strengthen the movement, adding that it wouldn't compromise on conditions to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel.

"He died wearing a military vest, fighting with a rifle and grenades, and when he was wounded and was bleeding he fought with a stick. This is how heroes die," said Adel Rajab, 60, a father of two in Gaza.

"I have watched the video 30 times since last night, there is no better way to die," said Ali, a 30-year-old taxi driver in Gaza.

"I will make this video a daily duty to watch for my sons, and my grandsons in the future," said the father of two.

🇵🇸 Incredible footage: Yahya Sinwar, covered in dust, all his comrades just killed, arm amputated and close to death, hurls a projectile at an Israeli drone in a final act of defiance

Israelis are ridiculing this as a pathetic end, but I'm not sure the world will see it that way pic.twitter.com/I0gdAQhQ0L

— Keith Woods (@KeithWoodsYT) October 17, 2024

🇵🇸 Covered in dust & rubble, missing his trigger finger and arm in an iron tourniquet, Sinwar gave the last full measure of devotion. He died for his friends, defiant to the full might & cowardly power of the terror colony to the literal very end by hurling a projectile at the… https://t.co/nsmdjmLNQd pic.twitter.com/C4Rgvsr3GL

— Sam Parker-ucas Gage🇺🇲 (@SamParkerSenate) October 18, 2024

Something extraordinary about Israelil culture. Whatever people think of Sinwar, he died the death of a Hollywood hero. The last man standing, alone amongst his dead comrades, covered with dust, barely alive, against overwhelming odds, using his one remaining arm to throw the… pic.twitter.com/iuEhXOE8cV

— Jackie Walker - HRH, MP, MBE, ABC (@Jackiew80333500) October 18, 2024

Yahya Sinwar had one of the most heroic and glorious deaths I’ve ever seen.

He fought off tanks and bombs,
wearing a keffiyah and missing an arm, he threw a stick at the drone filming him – a last act of defiance against the Zionists terrorists.

He died a resistance fighter. It… pic.twitter.com/b5YuYpX3Kq

— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) October 18, 2024

the media has told for a year that Sinwar hides underground, safely surrounded by hostages, getting rich off embezzled aid, letting others die for him

he died alone, covered daylight and dust, using his one remaining arm to throw debris at a drone operated by a coward https://t.co/tHVeLM0k60

— multitude🔻container (@lllliatttt) October 17, 2024

Bidens, Macrons, Scholzs and Starmers of the world have seen such incredible scenes only in Hollywood movies.

We have seen it in real world. What a blessing this resistance is. Be proud.#YahyaSinwar pic.twitter.com/th3JRw3vME

— Syed Zafar Mehdi (@mehdizafar) October 18, 2024

“They will say, this is the victory photo, the end of the battle and we have assassinated Sinwar, BE MY GUEST.”

-Yahya Sinwar, May 26, 2021 pic.twitter.com/GCchurbRQw

— Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) October 18, 2024

Israelis are now realizing the IDF made a catastrophic mistake when they & their soldiers released Sinwar's last footage "without a hand but continuing to fight" in military fatigue with tactical gear, giving him "the ultimate honor".

Hamas is capitalizing big time on this tale! pic.twitter.com/zRRZKlQ647

— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) October 18, 2024