By TARYN PEDLER

Published: 18:14 BST, 28 May 2025 | Updated: 20:57 BST, 28 May 2025

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Israel 's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that the chief of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, has been eliminated by Israeli forces. 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 on Wednesday afternoon, Netanyahu said: 'We have eliminated Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Sinwar'.

Israel ‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed that the chief of Hamas in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, has been eliminated by Israeli forces. 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 on Wednesday afternoon, Netanyahu said: ‘We have eliminated Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Sinwar’.

Israeli media reported that Sinwar, nicknamed 'The Shadow' and 'The Butcher of Khan Yunis', 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. Multiple airstrikes pounded the European hospital in southern Gaza where the IDF claimed it had found 'Hamas terrorists in a command and control centre' underground.

Israeli media reported that Sinwar, nicknamed ‘The Shadow’ and ‘The Butcher of Khan Yunis’, 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. Multiple airstrikes pounded the European hospital in southern Gaza where the IDF claimed it had found ‘Hamas terrorists in a command and control centre’ underground.

Footage showed huge clouds of smoke billowing out of the facility in Khan Younis following one of the biggest strikes on the Strip in weeks. It was unclear how many civilians were killed but medics said it was a 'catastrophe' with bodies left trapped under the rubble. Earlier in mid-May, Defence Minister Israel Katz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that there were rising indications that Sinwar was dead. Arab media also reported earlier this month that the body of Sinwar was found in the ruins of a Hamas tunnel complex in Khan Younis, five days after it was bombed by the IDF.

Footage showed huge clouds of smoke billowing out of the facility in Khan Younis following one of the biggest strikes on the Strip in weeks. It was unclear how many civilians were killed but medics said it was a ‘catastrophe’ with bodies left trapped under the rubble. Earlier in mid-May, Defence Minister Israel Katz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that there were rising indications that Sinwar was dead. Arab media also reported earlier this month that the body of Sinwar was found in the ruins of a Hamas tunnel complex in Khan Younis, five days after it was bombed by the IDF.

Sources revealed it is also believed Sinwar had broken strict Hamas protocol by meeting with ten other Hamas kingpins. Born, Mohammad Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza he worked his way up to the ranks of Hamas over several decades. In 2006 he was involved with the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, an operation that later led to a prison exchange deal in 2011. 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.

Sources revealed it is also believed Sinwar had broken strict Hamas protocol by meeting with ten other Hamas kingpins. Born, Mohammad Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza he worked his way up to the ranks of Hamas over several decades. In 2006 he was involved with the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, an operation that later led to a prison exchange deal in 2011. 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 the 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. 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.

His death comes seven months after the 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.' Sinwar's death comes after one person was killed and 48 others injured after a crowd overwhelmed an aid hub in Gaza, according to local health officials.

‘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.’ Sinwar’s death comes after one person was killed and 48 others injured after a crowd overwhelmed an aid hub in Gaza, according to local health officials.

In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. A heartbreaking video showed swarms of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar.

In the southern city of Rafah, which is under full Israeli army control, thousands of people including women and children, some on foot or in donkey carts, flocked towards one of the distribution sites to receive food packages. A heartbreaking video showed swarms of people walking through a wired-off corridor and into a large open field where aid was stacked. Some of the recipients showed the content of the packages, which included some rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits and sugar.

Later, images on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. 'The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation's administration in those buffer zones,' Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters.

Later, images on social media showed large parts of the fence torn down as people jostled their way onto the site. Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said, without providing evidence, that Hamas had tried to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. ‘The real cause of the delay and collapse in the aid distribution process is the tragic chaos caused by the mismanagement of the same company operating under the Israeli occupation’s administration in those buffer zones,’ Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters.

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Netanyahu alleges Israel killed senior Hamas leader

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