A maternity ward in Leipzig, eastern Germany, has sparked a firestorm of controversy after posting an Instagram story celebrating a newborn named “Yahya Sinwar”, adorned with three heart emojis.
The name, identical to the former leader of the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, has ignited a heated online debate, reflecting the deep divisions surrounding Israel’s war on Gaza.
On 3 August, Leipzig University Hospital published its daily Instagram welcome posts for newborns.
Among the names, showcased on a chalkboard, was “Yahya Sinwar,” written with a heart dotting the “i”, under the word “Welcome.”
The post, intended as a routine celebration of a new birth, quickly gained traction across social media platforms, drawing both condemnation and support.
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Yahya Sinwar, the former head of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza who is now deceased, was widely seen as the chief architect of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that left around 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken as captives back to Gaza.
Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza in October 2024. For many Palestinians, Sinwar is viewed as a symbol of armed resistance against decades of Israeli occupation.
The hospital on Monday issued an apology on Instagram, stating that the staff member who posted the image was unaware of the name’s political associations.
“We understand that today’s post has evoked negative associations in some people. The staff member who posted the image was unaware that the name is currently associated with a well-known political figure in a highly sensitive geopolitical context.”
The hospital emphasised that names are published only with parental consent and announced a review of internal procedures to prevent future oversights.
What’s in a name?
German-Israeli rapper and songwriter Ben Salomo amplified the controversy by sharing a screenshot of the hospital’s post on Instagram, condemning the inclusion of Sinwar’s name.
“Should it be allowed in Germany to name a child after a terrorist and mass murderer?” he wrote on X, prompting a wave of support from pro-Israel social media users.
A person responded, writing, “You’ve totally lost it, not all your screws are tight! Honestly, it’s none of your damn business what parents name their kids. You wannabe artist”.
Others questioned the selective outrage, pointing to a perceived double standard.
“If the child had been named Benjamin Netanyahu, no one would have a problem. Nor with the name Donald,” they said, referring to US President Donald Trump, who has staunchly supported Israel’s war while dismissing what leading human rights groups and scholars have described as a genocide taking place in the enclave and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
“A democracy must endure that,” they added.
Many pro-Israelis interpreted the inclusion of the name as a tacit endorsement of violence.
One social media user declared: “Yes, they’re glorifying the name of a genocidal terrorist.” Another labelled it “Absolutely unacceptable,” while others described the hospital’s post as “CELEBRATING TERROR.”
Naming a kid Yahya Sinwar in Europe amounts to child abuse, denying the child a fair shot at life by associating him with evil terrorism by name. The parents should be prosecuted.
— Colin C. Cortbus (@CCCortbus) August 6, 2025
But others pushed back.
On Facebook, some called the backlash for the name “pathetic” and defended the parents’ choice and their right to call their baby the name they like.
“So, people cannot name their children because somewhere in the world it hurts the feelings of an inbred zionist?” one person wrote.
“What? It’s a baby. Don’t be a hater.” another added.
Lmao
How does a name define a person?
Ever use the ‘dont judge book’ quote.
U cry so much about anti semitism when semitism doesnt solely relate to Jewish ppl. U think its ok to insinuate a parents joy should be condemned to pre-conceived suspicion based on yr racist theories?— Badi (@badster01) August 7, 2025
Some pointed out that Yahya is a very common name, with religious significance to it – equivalent to John in English, and Johannes in German.
“By the way: The name “Yahya” is a melodious name with biblical origins and corresponds to the German “Johannes” in meaning and tradition.”
Am 03.08. um 3:34 Uhr wurde der kleine “Yahya Sinwar” in der Universitätsklinik Leipzig geboren.
Übrigens: Der Name “Yahya” ist ein klangvoller Name mit biblischem Ursprung und entspricht dem deutschen “Johannes” in Bedeutung und Tradition.❤️lichen Glückwunsch an die Eltern‼️ pic.twitter.com/9TlEPSbqNZ
— Mr.Wiedman🇩🇪 (@MrWiedman) August 5, 2025
“Afraid of everything—watermelons, children, women, own attorney general, processions, even words like ‘river’ or ‘sea.’ Always the victim,” another person added on Facebook.
The name Yahya is a widely used name across the Arab world. Its popularity has grown in Europe in recent years.
According to a 2024 report by the UK’s Office for National Statistics, “Yahya” climbed 33 places to rank 93rd among boys’ names in England and Wales, with 583 newborns receiving the name.
The reason behind why the parents chose this name remains unknown, and the parents have given no official information or made a statement regarding the baby’s background or origins.
