Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) confirmed the death of senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, marking a significant moment in Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking before the Knesset, Netanyahu said:
“In 600 days of the ‘War of Revival’, we have indeed changed the face of the Middle East… We drove the terrorists out of our territory, entered the Gaza Strip with force, eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists, eliminated… Mohammed Sinwar.”
Who Was Mohammed Sinwar?
- Presumed head of Hamas in Gaza following the deaths of other top commanders.
- Younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former top Hamas political leader in Gaza who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.
- Believed to have taken charge of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, after Mohammed Deif was killed.
- Played a central role in indirect negotiations with Israel, decisions on hostage issues, and the strategic operations of the group.
Details of the Strike:
- Israeli media reported that Mohammed Sinwar was targeted in airstrikes on May 13 in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attack was a “precise strike” on a Hamas command and control centre located underground beneath the European Hospital.
- His death had been speculated in recent weeks, but Netanyahu’s statement is the first official confirmation.
Significance:
- The killing of Mohammed Sinwar marks another major blow to Hamas’s leadership structure following the deaths of Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif.
- His removal is likely to impact Hamas’s operational capability and its internal command chain, especially regarding ongoing hostage negotiations and military strategy.
This announcement comes amid Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza as part of what Netanyahu terms the “War of Revival” — launched following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the current conflict.
