Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar is eliminated by Israel, Netanyahu reveals

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Hamas Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, has been eliminated.

Sinwar was one of Israel’s most wanted and the younger brother of the militant group’s former leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October 2024. 

Speaking to parliament this afternoon, Netanyahu said: ‘We have eliminated Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Sinwar’. 

Israeli media had reported that Sinwar was targeted in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza earlier this month.

According to reports, Sinwar was killed on May 13 after the IDF dropped a large number of bombs on a tunnel hideout under a hospital in Gaza. 

Earlier in mid-May, Defense Minister Israel Katz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that there were rising indications that Sinwar was dead.

Sinwar has been the leader of Hamas since his brother was assassinated, and therefore in control of of the remaining 58 Israeli hostages – around 21 of which are believed to be alive.

His death comes seven months after former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by a single gunshot to his head after an hour-long firefight of trainee soldiers on a routine operation in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Hamas Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, pictured, has been eliminated

According to reports, Sinwar was killed on May 13 after the IDF dropped a large number of bombs on a tunnel hideout under a hospital in Gaza 

It comes after his brother, Yahya Sinwar, was eliminated in October

Yahya, known as the architect of the October 7 massacre, was killed after being hunted by intelligence services and the Israeli Defence Forces for over a year. 

During the fierce battle, two militants fled to one building while Yahya – whose identity was not known by the Israelis until much later – escaped to another.

In a graphic display of the intensity of the encounter, the Hamas leader was found with electric cable tied in a makeshift tourniquet around his arm, which was wounded by shrapnel from a small missile or tank shell.

The terrorist chief was later shot in the head, the director of Israel’s national forensic institute revealed at the time.

It was not known who fired the bullet or what kind of weapon was used to deliver the fatal blow.

After the dust had cleared, Israeli soldiers realised the body found in the rubble of the now-blown apart building bore a striking resemblance to Yahya.

They cut off one of his fingers to confirm his identity.

According to the Israeli military, Yahya had been forced out of the underground lair where he was cowering as they covertly closed off streets and blew up tunnels in the area.

The haunting moment visibly bloodied former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was identified as a terrorist by an IDF drone just seconds before he was assassinated by Israeli forces in Gaza 

IDF soldiers carry Yahya Sinwar’s body out of the wrecked building on a stretcher

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later responded to the death of Yahya, saying it would not halt the ‘Axis of Resistance’ and that Hamas would live on.

‘His loss is undoubtedly painful for the Axis of Resistance, but this front did not cease advancing with the martyrdom of prominent figures,’ Khamenei said in a statement. 

‘Hamas is alive and will remain alive.

‘He was a shining face of resistance and struggle. With a steely resolve, he stood against the oppressive and aggressive enemy. With wisdom and courage, he dealt them the irreparable blow of October 7 that has been recorded in the history of this region. Then, with honor and pride, he ascended to the heavens of the martyrs.’

This is a breaking news story. More to follow. 

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