Escape from Gaza with a Forged Passport

Samar Muhammad Abu Zamar, the widow of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, reportedly fled Gaza using a forged passport. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, she was smuggled out of the region along with her children. The escape involved significant logistical support and financial resources beyond the reach of an average Gaza resident. A Gazan source confirmed her departure, stating, “She’s not here anymore; she’s in Turkey with the children.” Abu Zamar allegedly used another woman’s passport to cross the Rafah border into Egypt.

Life in Turkey and New Beginnings

After leaving Gaza, Abu Zamar remarried in Turkey. This new chapter in her life was reportedly facilitated by Fathi Hammad, a senior official in Hamas’ political bureau. Hammad has been linked to efforts to relocate Hamas operatives and their families from conflict zones. Abu Zamar’s remarriage followed the death of her husband, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli troops on October 16, 2024.

Hamas’ System for Extracting Families

Ynet’s report highlights a system established by Hamas to extract families of senior members during Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. This system relied on fake documents and fictitious medical records to facilitate their escape. Najwa, the widow of Yahya Sinwar’s brother Mohammed, is also believed to have left Gaza through this network. An Israeli security source confirmed that both women exited via Rafah before their husbands’ deaths.

The Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

Israel’s war on Gaza has persisted for 21 months, resulting in over 59,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The conflict has led to severe humanitarian conditions, with UN agencies warning of famine-like situations. Since March 2, Israel’s blockade has restricted essential supplies like food and medicine, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition across the Strip. Recent reports indicate that at least 111 people have died from hunger-related causes, with nearly 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Dire Food Insecurity in Gaza

A UN-backed IPC report warns that nearly all of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents face acute food insecurity. Approximately 470,000 people are enduring catastrophic hunger at the highest level (Phase 5), effectively meaning starvation. Among those most affected are 71,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women who require urgent care. The WHO reports that three-quarters of the population suffer from extreme food deprivation while lifesaving aid remains blocked.