The body of senior Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar has been reportedly located in a tunnel hit by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air attack near the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. The tunnel attack was carried out last week as part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“Based on all indications, Mohammed Sinwar was killed in a strike carried out on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis,” said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz during a closed-door meeting with Israeli parliamentarians.
Muhammad Sinwar Took Over After Brother Yahya’s Death
Muhammad Sinwar had assumed the leadership of Hamas in Gaza following the death of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, in October 2024. His assumption of leadership was an extension of Hamas’s armed struggle and political activities against mounting pressure from Israeli military forces.
Regarded as one of the most influential members of the group, Muhammad Sinwar headed both political and military activity in Gaza. His demise is regarded as a key turn of events in the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
A Long History of Militancy and Secrecy
Born in 1975 in Khan Yunis refugee camp, Muhammad Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar spent years ascending through the ranks of Hamas. Israeli authorities referred to him as “the shadow” because of his private and reserved demeanor. He had a long-standing reputation as an older strategist and operational commander.
Sinwar was centrally involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit—a mission that subsequently resulted in the large-scale prisoner swap of 2011. He also spent several years jailed by Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials during the 1990s and early 2000s, cementing his connections with senior Hamas leadership.
After Yahya Sinwar’s death, Muhammad stepped up Hamas’s recruitment and military activities even under intense Israeli air and land pressure. The Israeli spy agency set a large price on his arrest or killing because of his role in planning and carrying out attacks.
Yahya Sinwar’s Death Marked a Turning Point
Yahya Sinwar, the Gaza leader of Hamas and major orchestrator of the October 7, 2023 Israel attacks, was assassinated on October 16, 2024, in an Israeli operation in the southern Gaza Strip. His assassination was verified through DNA and dental records confirmation. His corpse was found in Rafah with multiple wounds, including a lethal head gunshot wound.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Yahya Sinwar’s killing as “a severe blow to Hamas,” but emphasized that Israeli actions would persist.
Hamas later confirmed Yahya’s killing, presenting him as a martyr and vowing to continue the group’s agenda under new leadership.
Ongoing Conflict and Strategic Losses
Israeli military operations in Gaza persist in aiming at Hamas leadership, tunnels, and command centers in an attempt to destroy the group’s infrastructure. The fatalities of both Sinwar brothers, who are regarded as key players in Hamas, represent a strategic blow to the organisation.
As the conflict persists, the discovery of Muhammad Sinwar’s body is likely to intensify tensions and continue to shape the shifting security dynamics in the region.
