An Israeli airstrike killed senior Hamas figure Muhammad Sinwar earlier this month while he was in a tunnel under a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli defense officials’ statement on Saturday. The confirmation came three days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar statement.In a joint announcement, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency said the May 13 strike on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis killed Sinwar, along with Muhammad Shabana, commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion.“The terrorists were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control center under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital,” the joint statement said, as cited by The Times of Israel.Earlier in May, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Hamas and Arab officials, that the meeting between Hamas leaders was held to talk about their position on ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal, among other topics.After learning of the gathering, the Israeli Air Force began preparing for a strike, The Times of Israel’s report said. Senior officers believed it might be canceled over concerns that hostages could be nearby, as Sinwar was known to keep them close.But once intelligence showed that no hostages were near the commanders, the Israeli air force was given approval to carry out the attack. Jets were launched, and the strike was executed.
Who was Muhammad Sinwar?
Muhammad Sinwar, a senior military figure in Hamas, was the younger brother of former Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. He had been on Israel’s most wanted list for several months.Israeli officials said Sinwar had resisted efforts to negotiate a hostage deal and had blocked progress toward a ceasefire.After the death of Muhammad Deif, Hamas’s top military commander, in July 2024, Sinwar took over the group’s military operations. Yahya Sinwar had been made the overall Hamas leader after Israel killed Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in the same month.When Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat in October 2024, Muhammad Sinwar became the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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