In a dramatic twist to the conflict dynamics in Gaza, reliable sources inside the enclave reveal that the late Yahya Sinwar, before his death in October 2024, personally helmed a covert intelligence operation starting in April of the previous year. The operation succeeded in intercepting large sums of money reportedly sent by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—via Mohammed Dahlan and Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan—to collaborator gangs inside Gaza. The now-deceased Sinwar brothers are said to have turned the tables on both the Israeli intelligence units and the UAE-backed networks long before they were killed in Israeli strikes.
According to multiple anonymous WhatsApp posts and underground sources in Gaza, the following sequence of events took place:
The Setup
From April 2024, Yahya Sinwar placed the newly formed Sahem Unit inside the territory under his direct oversight. With the help of his brother, Mohammed Sinwar, and trusted officers, the unit infiltrated gangs and families that maintained contact with the Israeli occupation forces or their proxies. These networks were allegedly being funded by the UAE, channelled through Dahlan and Tahnoun bin Zayed.
The goal, sources say, was to support these gangs so they could destabilise Hamas’s rule in Gaza, supplanting resistance control with UAE/Israeli-backed chaos.
The Interception
What transpired next changed the game. Rather than letting the funds reach the target gangs, the Sinwar brothers’ intelligence unit recruited double agents inside those networks. These agents accepted the UAE-money payments but redirected the funds to Hamas’s resistance operations instead of handing them over to the chaos networks.
While the exact dollar amounts remain unverifiable, the sources claim “hundreds of thousands of dollars” were intercepted. In effect, Yahya and Mohammed Sinwar forced the UAE/Israel axis to bankroll Hamas operations—unknowingly.
Why It Matters
- Exposed the Proxy Network: The operation reveals how the UAE and Israel allegedly worked together to establish recruitment and funding channels inside Gaza—seeking to replace Hamas’s authority with gangs loyal to Tahnoun bin Zayed and Dahlan.
- Hamas’s Counter-Intelligence Victory: By flipping the script, the Sinwar brothers not only protected Hamas’s internal structure but also eliminated key collaborator cells immediately after the cease-fire, thanks to intelligence gathered via the infiltration.
- Regional Implications: The story highlights the UAE’s deeper involvement and dual role in Gaza—not just humanitarian aid but alleged covert funding of factions aligned with Israeli interests.
- Reference: Le Monde, “The United Arab Emirates’ triple game in Gaza” (March 24, 2025):
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/24/the-united-arab-emirates-triple-game-in-gaza_6739457_4.html
- Reference: Le Monde, “The United Arab Emirates’ triple game in Gaza” (March 24, 2025):
- Legacy Of The Sinwars: Though both brothers were later killed in separate Israeli strikes—Yahya Sinwar in Rafah in October 2024, and Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025 beneath a tunnel complex in southern Gaza—the intelligence operation they oversaw before their deaths continues to shape resistance strategies within the Strip.
Important Caveats
- The claims stem from anonymous WhatsApp posts and unverifiable underground sources inside Gaza. There is no independent verification from international intelligence agencies or mainstream investigative journalism outlets as of this publication.
- The involvement of the UAE and its national-security apparatus (via Tahnoun bin Zayed) remains highly sensitive, and the UAE has not publicly acknowledged any of these activities.
- Some previous public analyses have documented Dahlan’s liaison with the UAE and Hamas negotiations, but not specifically this kind of intercepted-funds operation.
- Reference: Al-Monitor, “Israel, Mohammed Dahlan, Cairo, Hamas, Gaza, Yahya Sinwar” (June 2017):
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2017/06/israel-mohammed-dahlan-cairo-hamas-gaza-yahya-sinwar.html
- Reference: Al-Monitor, “Israel, Mohammed Dahlan, Cairo, Hamas, Gaza, Yahya Sinwar” (June 2017):
The Bigger Picture
This narrative underscores a multi-layered chess game in Gaza:
- On one side, Israel and the UAE allegedly sought to fragment Hamas’s governance by supporting internal proxies.
- On the other, Hamas, under the Sinwar brothers, managed not only to resist military attacks but also to conduct sophisticated intelligence operations that neutralised those proxies.
- The post-cease-fire purges inside Gaza reinforced the idea that Hamas emerged with deeper intelligence insights, even as its top commanders fell under Israeli fire.
Closing Thought
While the world watched cease-fires and diplomatic talks, the real war was fought underground—in tunnels of intelligence, money flows, and betrayal. The Sinwar brothers didn’t live to see the long-term outcome of their operation, but according to this exclusive report, they managed to transform the funding channels intended for their downfall into lifelines for their cause.
Their deaths may have ended their command, but the echoes of their intelligence triumph remain—turning what was once meant to be Gaza’s weakest link into one of its strongest strategic assets.