Zakaria Al-Sinwar: From Refugee Camp to Scholarly Resistance
A Historian's Pen Against Occupation
Zakaria Ibrahim Hassan al-Sinwar, born on March 7, 1965, in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, dedicated his life to scholarship and resistance. Growing up under occupation, he pursued knowledge, earning Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Zionist history and philosophy from the Institute of Arab Research and Studies in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Upon his return to Gaza, Al-Sinwar became a faculty member at the Islamic University, directing its Oral History Center. His academic work focused on analyzing the historical and ideological underpinnings of the Zionist regime, aiming to educate the Arab and Palestinian community about its intellectual and behavioral foundations. His efforts centered on documenting history, critiquing Zionist discourse, and bolstering cultural resistance.
Like his brothers, Zakaria chose a path of resistance, wielding his pen while they took up arms. Even Yahya, known for his writing, was driven to armed resistance by the Zionist regime's actions.
In May 2025, Palestinian sources reported the assassination of Zakaria al-Sinwar and his three children—Saeed, Nafez, and Nour. This act, according to these sources, exemplifies the Zionist regime's hostility not only toward armed resistance but also toward truth and scholarly expression. His assassination is portrayed as another instance of the apartheid regime's targeting of scholars who expose the truth.