Israel Identifies Body of Hamas Leader Mohammed Sinwar in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces announced they have located and identified the body of Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’s military chief in Gaza, after he was killed in an airstrike in May. His body was discovered in a tunnel under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, prompting further investigations into the actions of Hamas within civilian infrastructures, amidst severe international scrutiny regarding Israel's military operations.

The Israeli military has confirmed the discovery and identification of the body of Mohammed Sinwar, who served as the military leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that his body was located in a tunnel under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, with DNA testing used to verify his identity. Despite this announcement, Hamas has not publicly acknowledged Sinwar's death.

Sinwar, 49, is reported to have died during an airstrike on May 13, an incident that reportedly resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals and injuries to many more, according to Hamas-run civil defense. The IDF noted that Sinwar’s body was found alongside that of Mohammed Sabaneh, the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, and several personal items tied to them were discovered, contributing to ongoing intelligence investigations.

As part of a recent media engagement, the IDF allowed a small group of foreign journalists to view the tunnel in Khan Younis. The IDF released a video showing the entrance to the tunnel, which leads to various underground rooms, with Sinwar's body allegedly found in one of them. An IDF spokesperson accused Hamas of misusing civilian structures such as hospitals for military purposes.

Hamas has faced repeated allegations from Israel regarding its use of hospitals as shields for military operations, a claim the group has consistently denied. Israeli military operations targeting such facilities, especially hospitals, have raised serious concerns internationally, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened and many hospitals have been rendered non-operational.

The current military campaign launched by Israel followed a cross-border attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and led to the hostage-taking of many others. Since the escalation of the conflict, over 54,880 fatalities have been reported in Gaza, while Israel maintains that its objectives are the destruction of Hamas and the recovery of the remaining hostages.

Mohammed Sinwar was among the prominent figures in Hamas, having joined the organization shortly after its inception in the late 1980s. He ascended through its ranks, becoming commander of the Khan Younis Brigade by 2005, and was noted for his close connections with previous military leaders of Hamas. His brother, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces last October and is believed to have orchestrated the October 7 attack.