Gaza: Israel announces the death of Hamas military chief Mohammed Sinwar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday, May 28, that Mohammed Sinwar, a top military commander of Hamas in Gaza, had been killed as part of the ongoing war that has lasted for 19 months.
Smoke rises following Israeli missile strikes on Gaza City, Thursday, May 13, 2021. The four-day burst of violence has pushed Israel into uncharted territory — dealing with the most intense fighting it has ever had with Hamas while simultaneously coping with the worst Jewish-Arab violence inside Israel in decades. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
“We have driven the terrorists from our territory, stormed the Gaza Strip, eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists, and eliminated Mohammed Sinwar,” Netanyahu told the Israeli Parliament.
According to Israeli media sources, Sinwar was reportedly killed in a targeted strike by the Israeli army on May 13 in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. He was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former supreme leader of Hamas, who was himself killed in October 2024.
Yahya Sinwar was viewed by Israel as the principal architect of the October 7, 2023 attack, which marked the start of the ongoing and deadly conflict.
Mohammed Sinwar had long been identified by military analysts as a key operational commander within the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing. His death deals another major blow to the organization’s leadership, which has been significantly weakened by sustained Israeli strikes since the war began.
Despite the intensity of Israel’s operations, Hamas still retains partial control over parts of Gaza, particularly in the north and east. The group also continues to hold several dozen Israeli hostages captured during the October 7 assault and regularly mounts attacks against Israeli forces.
Sinwar’s death could have major diplomatic implications, particularly for ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiation efforts led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. As a senior commander, Sinwar was considered a key figure in any potential security or military negotiations on behalf of Hamas.