Former Presidential Aide Celebrates Deceased Hamas Leader on X

Our reporter

Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to Nigeria’s ex-president, has sparked controversy after taking to X (formerly Twitter) to honor Yahya Sinwar, a prominent leader of Hamas, who was recently killed by Israeli soldiers.

Ahmad shared a photo of Sinwar with the caption, “He was born, lived and died a leader!”

Yahya Sinwar, who had led Hamas’ military operations in the Gaza Strip, was killed by Israeli forces, ending a prolonged hunt for the mastermind behind the deadly October 7 attack on Israel.

That attack, carried out by Hamas militants, resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 Israelis and saw more than 200 civilians taken hostage, igniting the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed Sinwar’s death on Thursday, October 17, in a communication to foreign counterparts. Shortly after Katz’s confirmation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Sinwar had been “eliminated,” marking a significant success in Israel’s on-going military campaign.

Sinwar’s death is seen as a critical victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as it follows a series of targeted killings of high-profile leaders of groups opposed to Israel.

Sinwar was a key figure in Hamas, a militant organization that has governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades and has consistently rejected Israel’s right to exist, claiming that the nation is occupying Palestinian lands.

The war, triggered by the October 2023 attack, has since claimed the lives of over 40,000 people, according to Palestinian officials in Gaza.

While many countries, including the United States, have classified Hamas as a terrorist organisation, some nations apply this designation solely to its military wing.