Israel Confirms Death of Hamas Leader Mohammed Sinwar in Gaza Operation

Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader, was confirmed dead by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) following an airstrike earlier in May. His body was found in a tunnel beneath a hospital in Khan Younis. The IDF has faced scrutiny over its military actions that have led to significant civilian casualties.

The Israeli military announced that it has located and confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, a prominent leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The announcement followed the discovery of Sinwar's body in a tunnel situated under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed that DNA testing was used to confirm the identity of Sinwar, although Hamas has not publicly acknowledged his demise.

Sinwar, aged 49, was reportedly killed in an airstrike on May 13, which the Hamas-run civil defense agency claimed resulted in the deaths of 28 civilians and left many others injured. The IDF indicated that Sinwar's body was found alongside that of Mohammad Sabaneh, the commander of the Rafah Brigade, and that various items related to both figures were retrieved for further investigation.

On Sunday, the IDF allowed a select group of foreign journalists to enter Gaza and observe the tunnel from which Sinwar's body was extracted. They released video footage showing the tunnel's narrow corridors leading from the hospital. IDF spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin criticized Hamas for allegedly using civilian infrastructure, claiming they use hospitals as cover for military operations.

The Israeli government has consistently accused Hamas of concealing weapons and command centers within hospitals, a claim that Hamas denies. These accusations have prompted Israeli military actions that have drawn international scrutiny due to the resultant humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hospitals are struggling to operate and are under constant threat of attack.

Since the military operation intensified following a large-scale raid by Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023—resulting in around 1,200 Israeli deaths—Gaza has seen a staggering increase in casualties, with reports estimating over 54,880 deaths, according to local health authorities.

The situation in Gaza is critical, exacerbated by the breakdown of ceasefires and failed hostage negotiations. The fighting has continued amidst calls from international leaders for protection of medical facilities and civilians under humanitarian law. Mohammed Sinwar had been a longstanding figure in Hamas, joining the organization soon after its establishment in the late 1980s. He was known to have close ties to previous military leaders and played an instrumental role in planning the October 7 attack. His brother, Yahya Sinwar, a key figure within Hamas and believed to be a principal architect of those attacks, was reported killed last October by Israeli forces.