"My Uncle Smuggled the Master Murderer": Sinwar’s Former Neighbor Revisits His Childhood in Gaza

In a unique and extraordinary episode of the "Akhbar Kikar" podcast, journalist Moshe Aryeh interviewed Dor Shachar. Shachar was born Palestinian in the heart of Khan Yunis, grew up as a close neighbor to Hamas leaders Yahya and Mohammed Sinwar, and went on an unbelievable journey that led him to a full conversion to Judaism, becoming an inseparable part of the Jewish people.

During the interview, Shachar revealed the unthinkable reality of growing up in Gaza. He described how the education system and the family unit instilled deep-seated hatred from day one: "In school, they taught us that Jews are child-killers, and that to take back the land, the greatest commandment is to murder them."

Dor recalled the small moments that cracked the wall of hatred during his childhood, the candies he received from IDF soldiers and the total contrast between the "monsters" described to him and the kindness he encountered on the ground. "I saw a soldier with a strap on his arm and on his head; I didn't know then that those were tefillin, but I felt something inside my soul," he said emotionally.

In light of the events of October 7th, Shachar didn't hold back and warns against complacency. As someone who knows the Gazan mentality from the inside, he stated decisively: "They sanctify death. Anyone who murders a Jew is considered a saint. It has been proven that there are no innocents in Gaza, in 99% of the homes, there is either a terrorist or support for terrorism. The problem isn't just Hamas; it’s the entire ideology."

At the conclusion of the talk, Shachar, who wrote the book From Khan Yunis to Tel Aviv, sends a message of unity and unconditional love to the people of Israel: "The terrorist doesn't ask if you are right-wing or left-wing when he comes to murder you. Our victory only comes through being together."