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Israel says it found body of Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar in tunnel beneath hospital
The Israeli military has confirmed that the body of senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was found in a tunnel beneath a hospital in Gaza, weeks after he was killed in an airstrike. Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar. read more
A video released by the Israeli army shows Muhammad Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, travelling in a car through a tunnel near the Erez crossing, close to the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict on December 17, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed today that the body of senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar has been found in a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 13.
Sinwar, 49, was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel. Yahya was shot dead by IDF soldiers eight months ago. Both brothers were born—and killed—in the Khan Yunis area.
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Mohammed Sinwar, once nicknamed 'The Shadow' by Israeli intelligence for his ability to evade capture, took part in the 2011 deal that freed Yahya Sinwar in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He avoided even his father's funeral to stay hidden, but the Shin Bet eventually tracked his movements and targeted him.
A joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that Sinwar and Rafah Brigade Commander Mohammad Shabaneh were killed in an underground command center beneath the hospital. Items belonging to them, along with intelligence materials and other bodies, were also recovered.
Footage released by the IDF showed a body being dragged from a tunnel under the hospital.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operation, calling Sinwar an 'arch-murderer' and warning remaining Hamas leaders that they are next. He specifically named Gaza-based commander Az al-Din al-Haddad and Qatar-based leader Khalil al-Hayya.
The May 13 strike also killed Hamas commander Muhammad Shabana and senior figure Mahdi Kuwar.
Hamas's October 7 attack killed at least 1,180 people and saw 252 hostages taken. Of the 55 hostages still in Gaza, 32 are believed to be dead.
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