Hamas confirms its military chief Mohammed Sinwar is dead 3 months after Israel announced killing

Hamas on Saturday confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, the terrorist group’s military chief.

The confirmation has come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May announced that Mohammad, the younger brother of former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, had been killed. The Israeli military later said that he was killed in an airstrike earlier that month in Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis.

“The terrorists [Mohammad and others] were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control centre beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital,” said the Israeli military in a statement at the time.

Mohammad had been named Hamas’ military chief after Israel killed Mohammed Deif in an airstrike in July 2024.

The older Sinwar was killed in October 2024 by Israeli ground forces in southern Gaza’s Rafah.

Following the confirmation of Mohammad’s death, Izz al-Din Haddad, his close associate who currently leaders Hamas’ operation in northern Gaza, would be in charge of Hamas’ military, according to Reuters.

The confirmation of Mohammad’s death has come at a time when Israel has launched a renewed offensive for the control of Gaza City. The stated purpose is to defeat Hamas in its final strongholds and secure the release of hostages.

The Israeli offensive has led to worldwide condemnation as it is bound to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by the Israeli policy of restricting the flow of aid into Gaza. After widespread hunger and reports of hundreds of deaths from hunger, and deaths of hundreds more in attacks at food distribution sites, the United Nations (UN)-backed group formally declared famine in Gaza this month.

Ignoring the condemnation and concerns that the situation could worsen, Israel has pressed with its offensive and has continued its ground and aerial campaigns.