7 symbols in the final scene that made Yahya Sinwar a legend
Source: Asre Iran
Yahya Sinwar, who spent more than a third of his life in Israeli prisons and dedicated his life to fighting against the occupation, was eventually martyred in a fight with Israeli soldiers. Although many other Hamas leaders and members were martyred before him, the case of his martyrdom and the way news and photographs of his final moments were published turned him into a legend. In this article, we discuss from a symbolic perspective why his life's final moments made him a symbol greater than his entire life:
Standing in the Ruins
The first published image of Yahya Sinwar's lifeless body did not show him "falling to the ground," but rather showed Sinwar "standing in the rubble." The image of his corpse was not horizontal, but vertical. Semiotically, this showed resilience in the minds of others.
Killed in battle, face-to-face with the enemy
He died in combat uniform and not in cover but in direct conflict with Israeli soldiers. Being killed on the battlefield is considered sacred among all peoples and cultures, and those killed in war are given special respect.
Alone
Sinwar was alone when he was martyred. It is said that two of his comrades died in a clash with Israeli soldiers, and the great Hamas commander died fighting alone. The commander's loneliness in every battle adds to the emotional weight of the story.
Fighting to the last breath with a wounded body
Before his martyrdom, he was wounded or continued to fight with a wounded body. In the published photographs of his body, it is clear that his right arm was seriously wounded, and he tied the upper part of the wound with wire to prevent further bleeding. In his final moments, he appears to have fired his last shots from his Kalashnikov, as an Israeli drone approached him, throwing the stick he was holding at it. He fought literally to the last bullet, to the last drop of blood, to the last breath, and alone. The video of his final moments was a complete and effective cinematic sequence and made Sinwar more timeless.
The Body and the Tank
Sinwar's story was a visual narrative of the "Body and the Tank"; the Israeli military's statement and the released video of a tank firing at Sinwar confirm this bloody and epic story.
Souvenirs
The things he left behind, such as the gun that worked so hard that Sinwar glued some of its parts together with electrical glue, empty magazines, a prayer book, and rosary, and his perfume, complete the image of his martyrdom.
The missing body
The Israelis took his body to an unknown location, and if his body and grave are lost forever, he will become an invisible legend that is everywhere, and if his body is returned, his grave will become a symbol of a hero who lived for his homeland, fought for his homeland and was killed for his homeland.
And how similar is the final sequence of Sinwar's life to this famous poem by Mahmoud Darwish:
Besiege the besiege
There is no way to escape
Lift your severed knees
and strike your enemy with them
You have no escape
Am I lying next to you?
Take me and strike your enemy with me
Because now you are free, free.
