Israel Confirms Elimination of Top Hamas Leader Mohammad Sinwar in Gaza Airstrike

Mohammad Sinwar became the leader of Hamas after his older brother Yahya Sinwar was killed in October

Israel has confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, the de facto leader of Hamas in Gaza and a key architect of the October 7 attacks, following a targeted airstrike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally announced Sinwar's death during a parliamentary address on Wednesday.

Sinwar, younger brother of notorious Hamas figure Yahya Sinwar, had risen to command after his brother’s reported death in an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation in October 2024. Netanyahu included Sinwar in a list of senior Hamas operatives killed in recent Israeli offensives, stating, “We eliminated Mohammad Sinwar.”

The IDF is believed to have used bunker-busting bombs to target the underground complex he was in

Reports indicate that Sinwar was killed during an Israeli airstrike last week on a Hamas command center located beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The IDF reportedly deployed bunker-busting munitions to destroy the underground compound and seal its exits, aiming to neutralize any survivors and prevent escape.

Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly confirmed on May 19 that Sinwar’s body had been discovered in a tunnel in Khan Younis. In a closed-door parliamentary meeting a day earlier, Katz told lawmakers Sinwar was dead “beyond all indications.”

He was the younger brother of deceased Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Mohammad Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas’ military wing after the death of senior commander Mohammad Deif in July 2024, and later took over the broader organization following Yahya Sinwar’s demise.

During his remarks to Israel’s parliament, Netanyahu declared that Israeli forces had killed “tens of thousands of terrorists,” naming Mohammad Deif, Hassan Nasrallah, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammad Sinwar among them. He also noted Israel’s seizure of the Rafah and Morag border crossings.

Mohammad Sinwar (R)

“In the last two days, we’ve been executing a dramatic plan toward the complete defeat of Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “We’re taking control of their food distribution and money machine. This is what destroys their governing capabilities. That’s what we promised.”

With Mohammad Sinwar's death now confirmed, analysts warn of a potential power vacuum and internal struggle within Hamas between its political and military factions. Sinwar’s rise had been marked by ruthless consolidation of power, continuing the violent legacy of his older brother, who was dubbed “Gaza’s Osama bin Laden” for his brutal tactics and leadership style.