Underlining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s May 28 announcement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday confirmed the elimination of Mohammad Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader, in an airstrike targeting a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. The strike took place on May 13, where Sinwar was believed to be hiding.

In a joint statement with the Israeli security agency Shin Bet, the IDF also reported the deaths of Mohammad Shabana, commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion, in the same operation.

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According to the Israeli military, Mohammad Shabana was among the planners and executors of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and had overseen the captivity of several hostages in southern Gaza.

“We eliminated the Head of Hamas, again. He happens to be a Sinwar too,” the IDF posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

In a separate statement, the IDF said the terrorists were operating from an underground command and control center located beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, thereby “deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital.”

The Israeli military added that it had employed extensive intelligence measures and taken proper precautions to “enable a precise strike that would mitigate civilian harm to the greatest extent possible.”

Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s top leader and mastermind of the October 7 attack, who was killed by Israel in a military operation in Gaza in October 2024. Following Yahya’s death, Mohammad Sinwar assumed a senior leadership role in southern Gaza, becoming a key figure in Hamas’s military wing and a major obstacle to ceasefire negotiations and hostage release efforts.

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Previously, Israeli officials had said they had “probably” killed Mohammad Sinwar. Netanyahu’s recent remarks serve as the first direct confirmation of his death.

The elimination of Mohammad Sinwar is part of Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas’s leadership. In addition to the Sinwar brothers, Israeli forces have also killed military commander Mohammad Deif and political leader Ismail Haniyeh in separate targeted operations.

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Published By: Vivek Published On: May 31, 2025

Black-clad mourners filled the streets of central Tehran on Saturday as Iran held a state funeral service for about 60 people killed in attacks by Israel, including top military commanders and scientists, APA reports citing thenationalnews.com.

“The ceremony to honour the martyrs has officially started,” state TV said, showing footage of people waving Iranian flags and holding pictures of assassinated commanders near Enghelab Square as lorries bearing coffins draped in the Iranian flag passed through the crowd.

A ceremony was due to be followed by a funeral procession to Azadi Square, about 11km away.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with other senior government officials and military commanders, including Esmail Qaani, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, attended the funeral.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, did not appear in the state broadcast of the funeral. He has in the past been shown holding prayers over the coffins of fallen military figures before their funerals.

The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) killed Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, a senior member of Hamas’ military wing, in extensive Friday strikes on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, the two security organizations announced Saturday night, APA reports citing Jerusalem Post.

His most recent role was head of combat support operations in the military wing of Hamas. He is considered one of the organization’s founders.

He was a central knowledge figure and one of the last remaining senior Hamas leaders who held high-ranking positions prior to October 7 and was still in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), in a joint operation, have successfully struck and eliminated a senior figure in Hamas’ military wing, Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, in the Sabra area of Gaza City. According to reports, Hakham’s death dealt a massive blow to Hamas’ organisational structure and capabilities. The Israeli forces confirmed the development regarding the elimination of another senior figure of Hamas.

According to the Israel War Room, al-Issa was an important member of Hamas’ military wing, serving as the head of the combat support headquarters. He was considered one of the founders of the terrorist organisation and had played an important role in its force buildup efforts in the Gaza Strip. Al-Issa had also served as the head of the training headquarters and was a member of Hamas’ General Security Council.

The IDF and ISA had been tracking al-Issa’s movements and activities, and their operation was aimed at disrupting Hamas’s ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. Al-Issa’s elimination is seen as a major success for the IDF and ISA, and it is expected to have a big impact on Hamas’ operational capabilities.

Al-Issa’s role in Hamas’ military wing was multifaceted. He was involved in planning and executing terrorist attacks against Israel, and he also played a key role in rebuilding Hamas’ organisational systems that were damaged during the war. According to the IDF, al-Issa was one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip who held high-ranking positions before October 7th in 2023.

The IDF and ISA have been taking actions to dismantle Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, and al-Issa’s elimination is a huge step in that direction. The operation demonstrates the IDF’s and ISA’s commitment to protecting Israeli citizens and preventing terrorist attacks.

Senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar killed in Gaza airstrike by Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Sinwar, a key mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack—was named by Netanyahu in a list of Hamas figures eliminated by Israeli forces.

Gaza:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that Mohammed Sinwar, believed to be the head of Hamas’ armed wing and the younger brother of top Hamas figure Yahya Sinwar, has been killed in Gaza. His remarks, delivered during a speech in the Israeli parliament, appeared to confirm Sinwar’s death in a recent Israeli airstrike. Hamas has not issued any confirmation.

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One of the last key Hamas commanders in Gaza

Mohammed Sinwar was among the last widely known Hamas leaders believed to be operating inside the Gaza Strip. As head of Hamas’ military wing, he was likely central to any hostage negotiations, and his death could complicate ongoing US and Arab diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire. Despite sustained Israeli military operations over the 19-month-long war, Hamas continues to retain control over parts of Gaza and still holds several hostages while launching intermittent attacks on Israeli forces.

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Targeted strike on Khan Younis hospital area

Netanyahu included Sinwar in a list of senior Hamas leaders killed in the conflict, alongside figures like Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, and Yahya Sinwar, the latter of whom was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024. Israeli media reports indicate that Mohammed Sinwar may have been killed in a May 13 airstrike on what the Israel Defense Forces said was a Hamas command center beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis—the Sinwars’ hometown.

The Israeli military has not officially confirmed his death, and Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least six people were killed and 40 injured in that strike.

(With inputs from AP)