Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday that Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza and brother of the late Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.
Addressing the Knesset, Netanyahu stated that Israel was at a “dramatic turning point” in its military campaign against Hamas, and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had “eliminated Mohammed Sinwar.” The Prime Minister emphasized that recent operations were aimed at dismantling Hamas’ governing and military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement marked the first official confirmation of Sinwar’s death, following a joint IDF and Shin Bet strike on May 13 that targeted a Hamas command bunker beneath the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis. According to Gaza health authorities, 26 people were killed in the airstrike. However, until now, there had been no independent or Hamas confirmation regarding Sinwar’s fate.
Mohammed Sinwar, 49, assumed a prominent leadership role within Hamas in October 2024, following the death of his brother Yahya Sinwar. He oversaw the organization’s military and political operations in Gaza, including command over its armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Netanyahu also provided an update on the status of Israeli hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. According to Israeli intelligence, 20 hostages are currently alive, while 38 are presumed dead.
In a related development, Hamas issued a statement on Wednesday claiming it had reached a general framework agreement for a ceasefire with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The proposed deal includes the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the return of several bodies in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, under the guarantee of international mediators.
Hamas added that it is awaiting a final response to the framework and is making “significant efforts to halt the brutal war on the Gaza Strip.”
The situation remains fluid, with international actors closely monitoring ongoing developments in ceasefire negotiations and military operations.
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