Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar killed in Israeli strike — Netanyahu confirms in major update
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu says Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar, was killed during recent Gaza military operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Wednesday that Mohammed Sinwar, the highest-ranking Hamas official in Gaza and brother of the group's former leader Yahya Sinwar, was assassinated. The information came as Israel pressed its military campaign across the Gaza Strip, rocketing what it called militant locations and targets.
Mohammed Sinwar succeeded leadership roles upon the death of his brother Yahya, who was killed by Israeli soldiers in 2024. Yahya Sinwar had been designated the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. He had emerged as the general leader of the militant group upon the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.
Ongoing strikes and humanitarian concerns in Gaza
The Israeli military stated that it had struck dozens of targets across Gaza in the last 48 hours, including anti-tank missile positions and weapon depots. These are all part of ongoing operations Netanyahu claims will continue until Hamas is destroyed and the remaining 58 Israeli hostages taken on October 7 are released.
Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said at least one person was killed and 48 were wounded when gunfire was opened on a new delivery center for aid, operated with the help of Israeli and American organizations. It was not known what set off the gunfire, further raising tensions over deliveries of humanitarian assistance into the enclave.
Heavy toll of the war
According to Palestinian health authorities, close to 54,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict started, among them thousands of children. The number indicates the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza despite Israel's continuing military goals aimed at destroying Hamas rule.
Prime Minister Netanyahu once again reiterated the Israeli promise to the campaign when he stated that the war would not cease until Hamas is utterly destroyed and hostages are rescued safely. The situation remains highly unstable, with both military operations and civilian casualties mounting.
