Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza chief and younger brother of the slain militant leader Yahya Sinwar, has been killed.
Mohammad Sinwar was reportedly targeted by an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month, and Netanyahu said last week that he was likely dead. On Wednesday, Netanyahu confirmed Sinwar had been “eliminated” in remarks to the Israeli parliament, while listing other Hamas leaders Israel claims to have killed in the past 20 months.
“In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas,” Netanyahu said. He also referenced Israel’s new system of aid distribution in Gaza, run by a U.S.-backed group.
Hamas has not confirmed Sinwar’s death.
The announcement comes as Israel intensifies its war in Gaza after a fragile ceasefire collapsed in March. Israel says it aims to dismantle Hamas’ leadership and secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Since then, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people and displaced over 2 million, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Most of the dead are civilians, but Gaza officials have not provided a breakdown between civilians and militants. Israel claims it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not offered evidence.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said Monday that Hamas has lost many of its assets, including its command and control centers.
Mohammad Sinwar rose to prominence after his brother Yahya, who orchestrated the October 2023 assault, was killed by Israeli forces last year.
