Latest Middle East news: Hamas leader’s death ‘will strengthen spirit of resistance’, Iran says – as video shows ‘final moments’ | World News

By Nicole Johnston, international correspondent

I was working as a correspondent in Gaza in 2011 when Yahya Sinwar was released from an Israeli prison in a prisoner swap in which one Israeli soldier was exchanged for around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

For two days, busloads of released prisoners were released to Gaza.

One of them included Yahya Sinwar.

A few days later, after the initial euphoria in Gaza had died down, my producer said we should go interview an important man who would probably one day become the next leader of Hamas. He was there.

Sinwar quickly rose through the ranks of the group’s management.

We met Sinwar in a large tent erected in front of his family’s home to “welcome” Palestinian prisoners returning to Gaza. The strip was in full party mode. The swap deal was seen as rare good news in Gaza.

At the time, Sinwar was a thin, wiry man who spoke relatively little. Members of Hamas, Sinwar’s family and Palestinian supporters came to visit a man who had spent two decades in an Israeli prison.

With the return of hundreds of prisoners to Gaza, hundreds of tents have been erected throughout the Strip.

His interview at the time repeated Hamas’s usual arguments, namely that the group would continue to “fight against the Israeli occupation” because it was the Palestinians’ “right” to do so.

Sinwar also said, “I look forward to joining my nephews on the battlefield. »

Sinwar learned Hebrew in Israeli prison. The study of Hebrew was later introduced into the Gaza school curriculum. At the time, Hamas said it was so the next generation would “understand the enemy.”

During the following weeks, the released prisoners were easy to recognize. Many were transferred to a building near the port. They were given shiny new black costumes and walked around freely, often wearing a scarf they had received during a huge parade at al-Khatiba Park in Gaza City.

Sinwar was absorbed in the Hamas leadership – he gave frequent press conferences and rare interviews, and was clearly biding his time.

We do not yet know who will have the last word within the group.