IDF releases Sinwar letter encouraging Oct. 7 terrorists to plan broadcast of massacre footage

The IDF released previously unseen documents written by Hamas's leader, Yahya Sinwar, on Friday, two years after his assassination.Additionally, the IDF published footage of the military carrying out the assassination, including firing tank shells on the structure Sinwar fled to, and drone footage carrying out searches within the structure the following morning.In one document, the October 7 massacre's architect demanded that Hamas's Nukhba Force terrorists broadcast their acts to as many media outlets as possible in order to terrorize the entirety of Israel.Sinwar wrote that "it must be emphasized to those responsible for the [terror cells] that they must undertake their [terror] actions intentionally, document and broadcast the images as quickly as possible."These "images" should include "stepping on IDF soldiers' heads, shooting at point-blank range, slaughtering people with knives, exploding IDF tanks, prisoners kneeling with their hands on their heads," and more, Sinwar wrote."We need to plan in advance for the events that will produce horrific images," he wrote in another document. "Several burning car bombs that exploded inside a post or building and caused terrible destruction. Heartbreaking sights. Enormous fire. Five or ten such pictures will make their [Israel's] heart sink."Allah came upon them without them expecting it and cast fear into their hearts. Two or three operations should be organized with the aim of burning down entire neighborhoods, a kibbutz, and the like. They [the terrorists] will spray gasoline or diesel fuel from a special tanker, then burn the place, and broadcast the pictures," the terror leader wrote.The documents also show how Sinwar tricked Israel's political, defense, and intelligence establishments, and tricked them into believing he was leaning towards a political settlement with Israel.Sinwar also wrote what could happen in the event that other terrorist organizations from the West Bank and the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" would join in the massacre."There may be indications of the enemy's collapse from the very beginning, and it is possible that the movements of our people in the 'interior,' in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as Hezbollah's intervention, will encourage this," he wrote."Therefore, we must be prepared to expand the attack to its maximum. The core of the plan should include control of the centers of power and command and control of our central forces. Forces of the Palestinian factions can be sent to population centers, but our forces must be concentrated on important defined objectives and key positions," he added.What happened during Sinwar's assassination?Combat teams from the Nahal and 828th Brigades, respectively, were conducting operations in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah based on intelligence indicating potential high-value Hamas targets in the area, when they spotted terrorists leaving a building.A video of an IDF tank firing on Yahya Sinwar's position in Gaza, published October 16, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)A firefight ensued; the terrorists scattered, and unbeknownst to the soldiers at the time, Sinwar remained alone, abandoned in a building.He was killed in a firefight shortly thereafter.Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar being spotted by IDF troops, before being struck by a tank shell, published October 16, 2026. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)Detailing the combat encounterSeveral weeks before Sinwar was killed, the IDF's Gaza Division assumed responsibility for the Rafah sector of the Gaza Strip.On the day of the engagement in which Sinwar was killed, lookouts spotted three armed terrorists moving through a damaged, IDF-controlled area roughly 300 meters from an ongoing engineering operation, the military said on Friday.Two of the terror operatives carried a blanket, and the third wore a tactical vest, the military added.A battalion commander spotted them, opened fire, and wounded one in the arm. This wounded operative was later confirmed to be Sinwar.Soldiers encircled the area using tanks and drones. One soldier was severely wounded and evacuated during a firefight.Sinwar, wounded from the aforementioned shooting, fled, entering a separate building from the other two terror operatives.Recording of communications between fighters of the 828th Brigade during the operation that resulted in Yahya Sinwar's death, published October 16, 2026. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)An IDF Paratrooper Brigade company entered to search the building that Sinwar had entered. A platoon commander noticed a pool of blood, indicating a wounded terrorist nearby. Moments afterward, two grenades were thrown at the soldiers, one of which detonated, the military said.Soldiers applied heavy fire on the structure, including tank shells, machine gun fire, and small arms fire. That evening, an IDF drone entered the structure and located the remains of a body. Soldiers waited until the next morning to complete searches due to operational risks, the military noted.When search teams entered the structure, they were able to positively identify Sinwar and confirm his death.