Widow Of Former Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Escapes Gaza, Remarries In Turkey : Report
In a startling revelation, the widow of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has reportedly fled Gaza and started a new life in Turkey, where she has since remarried. The development was first reported by Israeli outlet Ynet, which cited sources familiar with the escape.
Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar, who became Sinwar’s wife in 2011, holds a master’s degree in theology from the Islamic University of Gaza. According to the report, she managed to leave the besieged territory with her children using a forged passport—part of a high-level operation involving significant logistical coordination and a substantial amount of money.
"She’s in Turkey with the Children": Insider Reveals Escape Details
"She's not here anymore; she's in Turkey with the children," a Gazan source told Ynet, noting that the escape route required access to resources far beyond the reach of ordinary residents. Samar is said to have exited Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt using the identity documents of another Gazan woman.
Remarriage in Turkey, Allegedly Arranged by Senior Hamas Official
Her new marriage reportedly took place in Turkey following the death of Sinwar in October 2024. The union was allegedly facilitated by Fathi Hammad, a senior Hamas political bureau official long linked to efforts aimed at relocating operatives and their families out of Gaza as the conflict intensified.
The report also sheds light on a broader system established by Hamas during the early stages of the war with Israel, aimed at secretly evacuating the families of top commanders. The network allegedly utilized falsified documents, fake medical records, and covert coordination to move individuals out of the Strip.
Najwa Sinwar Also Vanishes Through Same Network
Another high-profile figure believed to have used this route is Najwa, the widow of Yahya Sinwar’s brother, Mohammed Sinwar. Mohammed briefly took over Hamas leadership following Yahya’s death. Najwa, like Samar, is thought to have fled Gaza via the same clandestine network. Her current whereabouts remain unknown, but sources confirmed both women left before their husbands were killed.
Yahya Sinwar Killed in Israeli Strike in Rafah
Yahya Sinwar, once the most wanted man in Gaza, was killed on October 16, 2024, during an Israeli military operation in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah. According to the IDF, Sinwar was located injured inside a bombed-out building by an Israeli drone. Publicly released footage showed him covered in dust, slumped in an armchair, and attempting to fend off the drone with a stick before Israeli forces struck the building. He died from a gunshot wound to the head, along with other injuries caused by the blast.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. As the war enters its 21st month, the death toll has surpassed 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The enclave now teeters on the edge of famine. Since March 2, Israel’s blockade has drastically restricted the flow of food, medicine, water, and fuel, pushing Gaza’s already fragile population further into desperation. Aid agencies report that at least 111 people—including infants—have died from starvation in recent weeks. Nearly 100,000 women and children are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Thousands Killed or Injured While Searching for Food
Disturbingly, over 1,060 people have died and more than 7,200 have been injured in the past two months while attempting to reach food distribution centers—most incidents unfolding near aid convoys.
A recent report by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) paints a grim picture: virtually the entire population of Gaza—2.1 million people—is facing acute food insecurity. Around 470,000 residents are enduring what the IPC classifies as Phase 5 conditions—the highest level of food insecurity, meaning famine-level hunger. Among the most vulnerable are 71,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women in urgent need of life-saving nutrition and medical care.
The World Health Organization warns that nearly three-quarters of Gaza’s population is enduring extreme food deprivation. Despite the proximity of aid, much of it remains blocked, just minutes away from those who need it most.
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