Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed the elimination of Muhammad Sinwar, a senior Hamas commander and younger brother of former Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, in a targeted Israeli airstrike.
Muhammad Sinwar had risen to prominence within Hamas after the death of his brother Yahya, who was killed by Israeli forces in October last year. Taking over as a senior commander in the group’s military wing, Muhammad played a critical role in directing operations and was believed to be the de facto leader of Hamas’s military structure in Gaza following the death of Muhammad Deif in July 2024.
“Based on all indications, Muhammad Sinwar was killed in a strike carried out on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis,” said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier this month. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had previously targeted underground tunnels and command centres located beneath the hospital, which intelligence claimed were being used by Hamas militants.
According to a report by Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath, Sinwar’s body was recently recovered along with the remains of at least ten aides. The same strike is also believed to have killed Mohammad Shabana, commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade.
Sinwar’s death marks yet another major blow to Hamas’ top-tier leadership amid Israel’s continued offensive following the October 7, 2023 terror attack, orchestrated by his brother Yahya. That assault ignited the current war in Gaza and left over a thousand Israeli civilians and soldiers dead.
Born in Khan Younis in 1975, Muhammad Sinwar joined Hamas in the late 1980s. He was first arrested by Israeli authorities in 1991 and spent under a year in jail for suspected militant activities. During the 1990s, he was also imprisoned for several years by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
In 2006, he played a significant role in the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, one of the most high-profile operations conducted by Hamas in that era. Sinwar later commanded Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a top military strategist after the deaths of other senior leaders.
Netanyahu hailed the strike as a significant success, asserting that Israel remains committed to dismantling Hamas’ leadership and operational network. The confirmation of Sinwar’s death is expected to further weaken Hamas’s command structure amid rising international pressure for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Hamas has yet to issue an official response or confirm the deaths reported by Israeli and Arab media.
