Mohammed Sinwar was nicknamed as “the shadow” by Israeli officials due to his secretive activities.(REUTERS FILE)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday confirmed the death of top Hamas commander Mohammad Sinwar in a recent military operation in Gaza, according to a report by Reuters.
The strike is being described as a major blow to Hamas’s leadership structure as Israel intensifies its campaign to dismantle the group’s command network.
“Mohammad Sinwar, the Hamas commander in Gaza and a key architect of their terror network, has been eliminated,” Netanyahu announced in a televised address.
Sinwar, the younger brother of the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, had assumed a central role in Hamas following his brother’s death during combat operations in Gaza last year.
Regarded as one of Israel’s most wanted figures, Mohammad Sinwar was instrumental in coordinating militant activities and operational strategies in Gaza.
His elimination comes as part of Israel’s escalated efforts to target key figures in Hamas and disrupt the group’s ability to conduct attacks.
The Israeli military has significantly increased its operations in recent weeks, focusing on Hamas’s leadership and infrastructure across the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has not yet officially confirmed Sinwar’s death. Meanwhile, the security situation in Gaza remains tense, with continued hostilities and growing humanitarian concerns in the region.
Sinwar’s Role in Hamas and the Hostage Crisis
Mohammed Sinwar had led Hamas since the death of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks, who was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah in mid-October 2024. Since then, Mohammed had also been in charge of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas—58 in total, of whom only 21 are currently believed to be alive.
His death marks a significant blow to Hamas’s military and political leadership. With Shabanah also presumed dead, only Az-adin-al-Hadad, the commander of the Gaza City Brigade, remains from the original five brigade commanders, positioning him as the likely next military chief of Hamas.
The strike is part of Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas leadership in Gaza, following the October 2023 attacks and ongoing conflict.
Who Was Mohammed Sinwar?
Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza, was a senior Hamas leader and the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the late head of Hamas in Gaza. After Yahya’s death, Mohammed assumed control of both the military wing and political command in the territory, becoming one of the most powerful and influential figures in the group.
Nicknamed “the shadow” by Israeli officials due to his elusive operations, Sinwar had long been on Israel’s most-wanted list. He played a central role in organising and overseeing Hamas’s military strategy, including the deadly attacks on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in hundreds of Israeli casualties.
A veteran member of Hamas, Sinwar joined the group’s military movement in 1991 and developed close ties with its leadership during multiple stints in Israeli and Palestinian prisons. He was also involved in the 2006 abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, an incident that led to a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2011.
