Hamas releases final footage of Yahya Sinwar on third anniversary of October 7 attacks

October 7, 2026, marks the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. On this occasion, the Al-Qassam Brigades released previously unseen footage of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, recorded in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah shortly before his death in October 2024. The video shows Sinwar consulting with local commanders, including Mahmoud Hamdan and Anis al-Darbi, regarding tactical responses to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. In several clips, Sinwar appears wearing head coverings to conceal his identity while moving through the area.

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida defended the 2023 attack, labeling it a strategic military achievement and calling for the opening of new fronts against Israel. Concurrently, the Iranian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Ali Abdollahi, issued a statement claiming that the events of October 7 accelerated the decline of the Israeli state. While Hamas acknowledges the heavy cost paid by the residents of Gaza over the last three years, the group continues to frame the conflict as a necessary struggle for Palestinian land. No further developments regarding new combat operations or legal proceedings were mentioned in the reports.