Getty PhotosA displaced Palestinian from Gaza advised the BBC that the home the place the previous Hamas chief was killed was his house for 15 years till he needed to flee in Might.
Ashraf Abo Taha mentioned the partially destroyed constructing he noticed in Israeli drone footage of the incident was his house on Ibn Sena Avenue in Rafah, southern Gaza. He was “shocked”.
Yahya Sinwar, a key determine within the October 7 assault on Israel, was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday.
The Israeli navy launched drone footage displaying Sinwar inside {a partially} destroyed home earlier than he was killed.
Mr Abou Taha advised BBC Arabic Gaza Lifeline that he left his house in Rafah for Khan Younis on Might 6, when Israel Order evacuation and commenced operations towards Hamas militants, with out receiving any information from his house till now.
Mr Abo Taha mentioned his daughter first confirmed him footage on social media that allegedly captured Sinwar’s closing moments, saying it depicted their home in Rafah. He mentioned he initially did not consider her till his brother confirmed the home was certainly his.
“I assumed, ‘Sure, that is my home,’ and I noticed the photographs and I used to be shocked,” Mr. Abo Taha mentioned.
He mentioned he did not know why Sinwar was there or how he obtained there.
“My brothers, sons and I’ve by no means had something to do with this,” he mentioned.
The BBC has confirmed that pictures and movies of his house offered by Mr Abo Taha match photos of the home the place Sinwar was killed.
BBC Confirm in contrast and matched photos of the home’s window arches, doorway exterior trim, cabinets and armchairs within the movie.
The BBC couldn’t independently confirm whether or not Mr Abo Taha owned the home.
Ashraf Abo Taha
israel protection forcesThe BBC analyzed footage of Sinwar’s killing and located that the home the place he was final seen was one of many few partially destroyed buildings within the space that suffered heavy injury.
Israel’s assault on Rafah in Might drew robust worldwide criticism and triggered the flight of greater than 1,000,000 Palestinians, in line with the United Nations.
Many individuals have been pressured to relocate for a second or third time as they’d been in search of refuge in and round Rafah after being displaced from different elements of Gaza.
Mr Abo Taha mentioned he constructed his house in Rafah himself with the assistance of his siblings. He mentioned the portray value about 200,000 shekels (£41,400) and was in good situation when he left it.
He described his house’s orange sofa and orange casserole, remembering seeing them the final time he fled his house.
“These are recollections as a result of a few of them have been introduced by my mother and they’re very treasured to me,” he mentioned.
“I am very unhappy about what occurred, the home I constructed and all my funds have been gone,” he mentioned. “Solely God could make it as much as us.”
