Latest news with #MohammadSinwar
Malay Mail
a day ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Mohammad Sinwar: Who is the elusive Hamas ‘ghost' Israel claims it finally got?
PALESTINE, May 30 — Mohammad Sinwar, the elusive Hamas military chief in Gaza who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday had been eliminated, has long been at the top of Israel's most wanted list. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of Hamas in 2024 after the death in combat of his brother Yahya, mastermind of the 2023 attack on Israel that led to the war in Gaza and later named as overall Hamas leader. Hamas has yet to confirm Mohammad Sinwar's death, which would leave his close associate Izz al-Din Haddad, who currently oversees operations in northern Gaza, in charge of Hamas' armed wing across the whole of the enclave. It is unclear how Mohammad Sinwar's death, if confirmed, would affect decision-making in the overall group—for example whether his death would bolster or diminish the influence of exiled members of the group's leadership council in deciding policy in ceasefire negotiations. Hamas officials describe Sinwar and Haddad as 'ghosts' who have long outfoxed Israel's intelligence agencies. Like his brother Yahya, Sinwar had survived many Israeli assassination attempts, including airstrikes and planted explosives, Hamas sources said. When Sinwar once visited a cemetery, his comrades discovered that a remote-controlled explosive resembling a brick had been planted along his path, according to the Hamas sources. In 2003, Hamas operatives discovered a bomb planted in the wall of Mohammad Sinwar's house, foiling an assassination attempt that the group blamed on Israeli intelligence. Known for clandestine operations, Mohammad Sinwar played a central role in planning and executing Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the country's worst security failure, Hamas sources said. He was also widely believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2006 cross-border attack and abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Hamas held Shalit for five years before he was swapped for more than 1,000 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Under the deal, his brother Yahya Sinwar, whose meticulous planning for the 2023 attack shattered Israel's reputation as an invincible power in a hostile region, was among those who were released. Reputation as a hardliner Netanyahu has vowed to eradicate Hamas, and the offensive against Gaza by the Middle East's most sophisticated and advanced military has severely weakened the organisation. But the group that was created during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in 1987 and which carried out suicide bombings that traumatized Israelis in the second one, is still standing. Born on September 16, 1975, Sinwar has rarely appeared in public or spoken to the media. Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat during a routine Israeli patrol in Gaza in 2024. Israel released footage of a severely wounded Yahya Sinwar throwing a piece of wood at a hovering drone, his last act of defiance towards his old foe before his death and his brother's rise. The Sinwars originally came from Asqalan - now the Israeli city of Ashkelon - and became refugees like hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians in what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe, during the birth of Israel during the 1948 war. The family settled in Khan Younis in Gaza, which has been largely reduced to rubble in the latest war. Mohammad Sinwar was educated in schools run by the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), which has long had tense relations with Israel, including during the current war in Gaza. He joined Hamas shortly after its founding, influenced by his brother Yahya, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest and at one time most influential Islamist group in the Middle East. His reputation as a hardliner helped him rise through the group's military ranks, and by 2005, he was leading Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade. The unit, one of the largest and most powerful battalions in Hamas's armed wing, has been responsible for cross-border attacks, firing rockets and planting bombs along the frontier. It also watches the movement of Israeli soldiers around the clock and in 2006, elite commandos led by Sinwar took part in Shalit's abduction. Sources close to Hamas say Sinwar developed close ties with Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas's military wing, and Mohammed Deif, the aloof military chief assassinated by Israel. — Reuters
Malay Mail
a day ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Mohammad Sinwar: The elusive Hamas ‘ghost' Israel claims it finally got
PALESTINE, May 30 — Mohammad Sinwar, the elusive Hamas military chief in Gaza who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday had been eliminated, has long been at the top of Israel's most wanted list. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of Hamas in 2024 after the death in combat of his brother Yahya, mastermind of the 2023 attack on Israel that led to the war in Gaza and later named as overall Hamas leader. Hamas has yet to confirm Mohammad Sinwar's death, which would leave his close associate Izz al-Din Haddad, who currently oversees operations in northern Gaza, in charge of Hamas' armed wing across the whole of the enclave. It is unclear how Mohammad Sinwar's death, if confirmed, would affect decision-making in the overall group—for example whether his death would bolster or diminish the influence of exiled members of the group's leadership council in deciding policy in ceasefire negotiations. Hamas officials describe Sinwar and Haddad as 'ghosts' who have long outfoxed Israel's intelligence agencies. Like his brother Yahya, Sinwar had survived many Israeli assassination attempts, including airstrikes and planted explosives, Hamas sources said. When Sinwar once visited a cemetery, his comrades discovered that a remote-controlled explosive resembling a brick had been planted along his path, according to the Hamas sources. In 2003, Hamas operatives discovered a bomb planted in the wall of Mohammad Sinwar's house, foiling an assassination attempt that the group blamed on Israeli intelligence. Known for clandestine operations, Mohammad Sinwar played a central role in planning and executing Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the country's worst security failure, Hamas sources said. He was also widely believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2006 cross-border attack and abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Hamas held Shalit for five years before he was swapped for more than 1,000 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Under the deal, his brother Yahya Sinwar, whose meticulous planning for the 2023 attack shattered Israel's reputation as an invincible power in a hostile region, was among those who were released. Reputation as a hardliner Netanyahu has vowed to eradicate Hamas, and the offensive against Gaza by the Middle East's most sophisticated and advanced military has severely weakened the organisation. But the group that was created during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in 1987 and which carried out suicide bombings that traumatized Israelis in the second one, is still standing. Born on September 16, 1975, Sinwar has rarely appeared in public or spoken to the media. Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat during a routine Israeli patrol in Gaza in 2024. Israel released footage of a severely wounded Yahya Sinwar throwing a piece of wood at a hovering drone, his last act of defiance towards his old foe before his death and his brother's rise. The Sinwars originally came from Asqalan - now the Israeli city of Ashkelon - and became refugees like hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians in what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe, during the birth of Israel during the 1948 war. The family settled in Khan Younis in Gaza, which has been largely reduced to rubble in the latest war. Mohammad Sinwar was educated in schools run by the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), which has long had tense relations with Israel, including during the current war in Gaza. He joined Hamas shortly after its founding, influenced by his brother Yahya, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest and at one time most influential Islamist group in the Middle East. His reputation as a hardliner helped him rise through the group's military ranks, and by 2005, he was leading Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade. The unit, one of the largest and most powerful battalions in Hamas's armed wing, has been responsible for cross-border attacks, firing rockets and planting bombs along the frontier. It also watches the movement of Israeli soldiers around the clock and in 2006, elite commandos led by Sinwar took part in Shalit's abduction. Sources close to Hamas say Sinwar developed close ties with Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas's military wing, and Mohammed Deif, the aloof military chief assassinated by Israel. — Reuters
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Who Will Lead Hamas After Sinwar? Israel Eyes Next Targets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The leadership of Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been left in doubt after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that de facto leader Mohammad Sinwar had been eliminated in a targeted airstrike — even though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed killing him and Hamas has issued no statement. This comes after the assassination of Mohammed Sinwar's brother, Yahya Sinwar, by Israeli forces last year. Both were architects of Hamas's military campaign. Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli foreign ministry and Hamas for comment. Why It Matters The elimination of Mohammad Sinwar would mark a significant blow to Hamas's leadership structure in Gaza. With both Sinwar brothers gone, the group faces a potential power vacuum. Israel's targeted killings aim to dismantle Hamas's command hierarchy, potentially weakening the group's operational capabilities and altering the dynamics of the ongoing conflict. A still from a video obtained by the Israel Defence Forces that it says shows Mohammad Sinwar. A still from a video obtained by the Israel Defence Forces that it says shows Mohammad Sinwar. Courtesy Israeli Defence Force What To Know Hamas has suffered significant losses among its top leaders in recent months. Political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on July 31, 2024. Military commander Mohammad Deif was also reportedly targeted around the same time. The Sinwar brothers were central to the group's military planning, including of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which brought a devastating response on the Gaza Strip. Potential Successors Izz al-Din al-Haddad, also known as Abu Suhaib, is believed to have taken on a key leadership role within Gaza, leading Hamas's military operations on the ground. Khaled Mashal, acting chairman of Hamas's political bureau, is a leading figure within the temporary five-member leadership committee, but he is not in the Gaza Strip. Known for his diplomatic efforts, Mashal maintains strong ties with Turkey and Qatar. Khalil al-Hayya, also based in Qatar, serves alongside Mashal on the committee and is involved in ceasefire negotiations. Zaher Jabarin, based in mainly in Turkey, plays a crucial role in overseeing Hamas's financial network, and Muhammad Ismail Darwish, chairman of the Hamas Shura Council and also in Qatar, is another influential member, particularly responsible for managing foreign relations. From L to R: Senior Hamas official Zaher Jabarin, the chairman of the group's consultative council Mohammed Ismail Darwish, known as Abu Omar Hassan, and the Palestinian movement's senior official Khaled Mashaal receive condolences during... From L to R: Senior Hamas official Zaher Jabarin, the chairman of the group's consultative council Mohammed Ismail Darwish, known as Abu Omar Hassan, and the Palestinian movement's senior official Khaled Mashaal receive condolences during the funeral of the Palestinian movement's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Qatari capital Doha on August 2, 2024. MoreIsrael's Next Targets Israel is expected to persist with its strategy of targeting Hamas's leadership. Key figures such as Haddad and Mashal are likely considered high-priority targets given their influential roles within the organization. The Israeli military has announced plans to seize control of approximately 75 percent of the Gaza Strip within two months, concentrating Palestinian civilians into the remaining 25 percent of the territory. This approach aims to dismantle Hamas's grip on Gaza, increase pressure on the group to release hostages, and force a surrender of power. Meanwhile, the intensifying military operations have exacerbated a severe humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies putting immense strain on Gaza's civilian population. What People Are Saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We eliminated Mohammad Deif, [Ismail] Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar." Hamas official Basem Naim: Following the death of Yahya Sinwar, "Hamas becomes stronger and more popular with each elimination of its leaders." What Happens Next Hamas has yet to confirm Mohammad Sinwar's death, and its response could reshape the conflict in Gaza. Confirmation may prompt retaliatory attacks or leadership changes. Israeli forces are likely to continue targeting Hamas leaders while the humanitarian crisis worsens.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Deadly break in at UN warehouse, aid trickles into Gaza
Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a UN World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, taking bags of flour after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade. The WFP said initial reports indicated that two people had died and several more were injured in the incident. The UN agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid "to reassure people that they will not starve." Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident. Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues - the United Nations or the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the UN to deliver was "comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk" when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine. The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel - which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce - continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said. "We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today," US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. "The president is going to review it." Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and the younger brother of the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month and Netanyahu said on May 21 that it was likely he was dead. The Israeli leader announced Sinwar had been "eliminated" in an address to the Israeli parliament as he listed off names of other Hamas officials that Israel had killed over the past 20 months, including Sinwar's brother Yahya. "In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas," he said, adding that Israel was also "taking control of food distribution", a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a US-backed group. Netanyahu's announcement came as the Israeli military has intensified its war campaign in Gaza after breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March. Israel has said it aims to dismantle Hamas' governing and military capabilities and secure the release of hostages that are still held in Gaza. The war erupted on October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed out of Gaza, rampaging through southern Israeli communities and killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians. More than 250 were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has decimated the coastal territory, killing more than 53,000, according to health officials in Gaza, and displaced over two million Palestinians. Gazan health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians but have not said how many militants have died. Israel believes it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not provided any evidence to support those claims. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir on May 26 said Hamas had lost many assets, including its command and control centre. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of the Palestinian militant group last year after Israel killed his brother Yahya in combat. Yahya Sinwar masterminded the October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, now in its 20th month, and was later named the overall leader of the group after Israel killed his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a UN World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, taking bags of flour after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade. The WFP said initial reports indicated that two people had died and several more were injured in the incident. The UN agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid "to reassure people that they will not starve." Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident. Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues - the United Nations or the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the UN to deliver was "comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk" when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine. The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel - which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce - continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said. "We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today," US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. "The president is going to review it." Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and the younger brother of the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month and Netanyahu said on May 21 that it was likely he was dead. The Israeli leader announced Sinwar had been "eliminated" in an address to the Israeli parliament as he listed off names of other Hamas officials that Israel had killed over the past 20 months, including Sinwar's brother Yahya. "In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas," he said, adding that Israel was also "taking control of food distribution", a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a US-backed group. Netanyahu's announcement came as the Israeli military has intensified its war campaign in Gaza after breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March. Israel has said it aims to dismantle Hamas' governing and military capabilities and secure the release of hostages that are still held in Gaza. The war erupted on October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed out of Gaza, rampaging through southern Israeli communities and killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians. More than 250 were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has decimated the coastal territory, killing more than 53,000, according to health officials in Gaza, and displaced over two million Palestinians. Gazan health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians but have not said how many militants have died. Israel believes it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not provided any evidence to support those claims. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir on May 26 said Hamas had lost many assets, including its command and control centre. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of the Palestinian militant group last year after Israel killed his brother Yahya in combat. Yahya Sinwar masterminded the October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, now in its 20th month, and was later named the overall leader of the group after Israel killed his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a UN World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, taking bags of flour after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade. The WFP said initial reports indicated that two people had died and several more were injured in the incident. The UN agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid "to reassure people that they will not starve." Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident. Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues - the United Nations or the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the UN to deliver was "comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk" when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine. The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel - which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce - continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said. "We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today," US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. "The president is going to review it." Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and the younger brother of the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month and Netanyahu said on May 21 that it was likely he was dead. The Israeli leader announced Sinwar had been "eliminated" in an address to the Israeli parliament as he listed off names of other Hamas officials that Israel had killed over the past 20 months, including Sinwar's brother Yahya. "In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas," he said, adding that Israel was also "taking control of food distribution", a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a US-backed group. Netanyahu's announcement came as the Israeli military has intensified its war campaign in Gaza after breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March. Israel has said it aims to dismantle Hamas' governing and military capabilities and secure the release of hostages that are still held in Gaza. The war erupted on October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed out of Gaza, rampaging through southern Israeli communities and killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians. More than 250 were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has decimated the coastal territory, killing more than 53,000, according to health officials in Gaza, and displaced over two million Palestinians. Gazan health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians but have not said how many militants have died. Israel believes it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not provided any evidence to support those claims. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir on May 26 said Hamas had lost many assets, including its command and control centre. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of the Palestinian militant group last year after Israel killed his brother Yahya in combat. Yahya Sinwar masterminded the October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, now in its 20th month, and was later named the overall leader of the group after Israel killed his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Thousands of desperate Palestinians have stormed a UN World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, taking bags of flour after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade. The WFP said initial reports indicated that two people had died and several more were injured in the incident. The UN agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid "to reassure people that they will not starve." Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident. Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues - the United Nations or the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the UN to deliver was "comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk" when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine. The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel - which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce - continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said. "We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today," US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said. "The president is going to review it." Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and the younger brother of the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack, Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month and Netanyahu said on May 21 that it was likely he was dead. The Israeli leader announced Sinwar had been "eliminated" in an address to the Israeli parliament as he listed off names of other Hamas officials that Israel had killed over the past 20 months, including Sinwar's brother Yahya. "In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas," he said, adding that Israel was also "taking control of food distribution", a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a US-backed group. Netanyahu's announcement came as the Israeli military has intensified its war campaign in Gaza after breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March. Israel has said it aims to dismantle Hamas' governing and military capabilities and secure the release of hostages that are still held in Gaza. The war erupted on October 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed out of Gaza, rampaging through southern Israeli communities and killing around 1200 people, mostly civilians. More than 250 were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has decimated the coastal territory, killing more than 53,000, according to health officials in Gaza, and displaced over two million Palestinians. Gazan health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians but have not said how many militants have died. Israel believes it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not provided any evidence to support those claims. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir on May 26 said Hamas had lost many assets, including its command and control centre. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of the Palestinian militant group last year after Israel killed his brother Yahya in combat. Yahya Sinwar masterminded the October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, now in its 20th month, and was later named the overall leader of the group after Israel killed his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Netanyahu says Hamas' Gaza chief eliminated
The Israeli leader said they are nearing Hamas' complete defeat. (AP pool pic) JERUSALEM : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief had been killed. Mohammad Sinwar is the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Palestinian militant group's deceased leader and mastermind of the Oct 2023 attack. Mohammad Sinwar had been the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month and Netanyahu said on May 21 that it was likely he was dead. The Israeli leader announced that Sinwar had been 'eliminated' in an address to the Israeli parliament as he listed off names of other Hamas officials that Israel had killed over the past 20 months, including Yahya Sinwar. 'In the last two days, we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas,' he said, adding that Israel was also 'taking control of food distribution', a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a US-backed group. Hamas has yet to confirm Sinwar's death. Netanyahu's announcement comes as the Israeli military has intensified its war campaign in Gaza after breaking a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in March. Israel has said it aims to dismantle Hamas' governing and military capabilities and secure the release of hostages that are still held in Gaza. The war erupted on Oct 7, 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed out of Gaza, rampaging through southern Israeli communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. More than 250 were captured and taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has decimated the coastal territory, killing more than 53,000, according to health officials in Gaza, and displaced over 2 million Palestinians. Gazan health officials have said most of those killed have been civilians but have not said how many militants have died. Israel believes it has killed tens of thousands of militants but has not provided any evidence to support those claims. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir on May 26 said Hamas had lost many assets, including its command and control centre. Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of the Palestinian militant group last year after Israel killed his brother Yahya in combat. Yahya Sinwar masterminded the Oct 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, now in its 20th month, and was later named the overall leader of the group after Israel killed his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
