In a notable expression of admiration for the late Yahya Sinwar, Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker has stirred controversy with her recent comments on social media. Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas, was killed during an Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza Strip on October 16, marking a significant event in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Bhasker took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her reflections on Sinwar, whom she claimed to have only learned about after viewing footage of his final moments. In her post, she referred to him as a “revolutionary hero” and encouraged her followers to listen to his last words, urging them to reflect on his message.
“I didn’t know anything about #yahyasinwar till I saw the footage of his last moments & assassination by the Zionist State, and now I think he’s a revolutionary hero. Listen to his will, his last words and tell me that you are unmoved. #FreePalestine,” she wrote, igniting a wave of discussions online. Yahya Sinwar's assassination has reverberated through various political and social circles, given his pivotal role in the escalation of violence in the region. Sinwar was a key architect of the Hamas assault on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and provoked a robust Israeli military response.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Sinwar’s death as the “beginning of the end” of the year-long conflict in Gaza. In the wake of his assassination, many groups mourned Sinwar, highlighting his significance in the Palestinian struggle. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) referred to him as a “great national leader” and called for unity among Palestinian factions to continue the fight for rights and statehood. Similarly, Fatah emphasized that Israel's policies would not deter the Palestinian people's resolve. Internationally, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim joined the chorus of condolences, labeling Sinwar a “fighter and defender” of the Palestinian people, while condemning the circumstances of his death as an act of the “barbaric Zionist regime.”
Conversely, Israeli officials celebrated the event as a crucial military victory. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz denounced Sinwar as a “terrorist mastermind,” asserting that his killing marked a turning point in the conflict. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to ongoing military operations until all hostages held by Hamas are returned. U.S. President Joe Biden echoed these sentiments, framing Sinwar’s death as a “moment of justice” and comparing it to the elimination of Osama bin Laden. He urged Israel to leverage this opportunity to seek peace in Gaza free from Hamas’s influence. As reactions continue to pour in from both sides of the conflict, Bhasker’s comments reflect the deeply polarized views surrounding figures like Yahya Sinwar in the ongoing struggle for power and identity in the region.