Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the killing of Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza chief and one of the group’s most wanted figures, during a military operation in southern Gaza. Speaking to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, Netanyahu declared Sinwar’s elimination as part of a decisive shift in Israel’s offensive against the militant group.

“We eliminated Mohammad Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammad Sinwar,” Netanyahu said, listing key Hamas leaders reportedly neutralised by Israeli forces. This marks the first public confirmation of Mohammad Sinwar’s death after weeks of speculation.

Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier in May, with Netanyahu stating on May 21 that it was “likely” he had been killed in that attack. His death deals a significant blow to Hamas’ leadership structure. Sinwar rose in rank following the death of his elder brother, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in combat by Israeli forces last year.

Yahya Sinwar, widely considered the mastermind behind the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that ignited the current conflict, had taken over as the group’s overall leader after the death of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. His younger brother, Mohammad, had since assumed command in Gaza.

The war, now in its 20th month, has seen intensified Israeli operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’ leadership and infrastructure. Netanyahu described the current phase as a “dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas,” highlighting new measures including Israeli control over food distribution in Gaza, now managed by a US-backed aid group.

Despite Netanyahu’s announcement, Hamas has not officially confirmed Mohammad Sinwar’s death.

The conflict continues to draw global scrutiny as humanitarian conditions worsen in Gaza, even as Israel presses forward with its military objectives.

Melissa Enoch

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