Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday that the Israeli military had killed Mohammed Sinwar, the presumed leader of Hamas in Gaza and brother of the late former chief Yahya Sinwar.
Netanyahu told parliament while reading a list of Hamas leaders killed in Israeli blitzes: “We eliminated Mohammad Sinwar.”
It comes after reports that the chief, who was also one of the October 7 masterminds, had likely been killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 13.
Israel appears to have successfully eliminated Sinwar Jr by bombing what it said was Hamas’ command centre under the European Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip.
The IDF is believed to have used bunker-busting bombs to target the underground complex.
Hamas said at least 40 people had been injured in the attack.
It reportedly targeted the exits of the subterranean compound with the aim of preventing the escape of any survivors.
Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly revealed earlier this month that the body of Mohammad Sinwar had been discovered in a tunnel in Khan Younis.
Sinwar took command from his older brother Yahya Sinwar, the main architect of the October 7 attacks, after the boss was killed by the IDF in October 2024.
While speaking to parliament, Netanyahu said: “We eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists, Mohammad Deif, Hassan Nasrallah, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Sinwar, and seized the Rafah and Morag crossings.
“In the last two days, we’ve been executing a dramatic plan toward the complete defeat of Hamas.
Israel targets Hamas leader ‘The Shadow’ in strike on HQ after he took command from his slain brother ‘Gaza’s Bin Laden’
He added: “We’re taking control of their food distribution and money machine. This is what destroys their governing capabilities.
“That’s what we promised.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli minister Israel Katz told a closed-door parliamentary meeting on May 18 that Sinwar was dead “beyond all indications”.
Now that the terror leader’s death has been confirmed, it leaves a power vacuum at the head of Hamas.
Experts fear a power struggle between its military and political wings.
Sinwar took command of Hamas’ military wing after Mohammad Deif was killed last July and later took over the entire terror group after his brother was killed.
He was believed to have been behind the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 – which eventually led to the release of his brother in a prisoner swap.
He was also named by experts as Hamas’s most senior commander in Gaza alongside Izz al-Din Haddad.
According to Israeli officials, Izz al-Din Haddad and Sinwar hold the most influence when it comes to the negotiating the release of the hostages.
There are 58 remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, around 21 of which are believed to still be alive.
