Hamas Confirms Death of Military Leader Mohammed Sinwar, Three Months After Israeli Strike
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – August 31, 2025
In a significant development amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has officially confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, its top military commander in Gaza and brother of the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The announcement, released on Saturday, comes nearly three months after Israel claimed to have killed him in a targeted airstrike, marking another blow to the organization’s leadership structure.
Hamas issued a statement accompanied by photographs of Sinwar alongside other slain commanders, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammed Deif, referring to them collectively as “martyrs.” The group did not provide specific details about the circumstances of Sinwar’s death, such as the date or location, but the confirmation aligns with Israel’s earlier assertions. “These leaders sacrificed their lives for the cause, and their martyrdom strengthens our resolve,” the statement read, according to reports from Reuters and The Times of Israel.
Background on Mohammed Sinwar and His Role in Hamas
Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, born in 1975 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza, rose through the ranks of Hamas to become one of its most influential military figures. The younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and triggered the current war, Mohammed was known for his secretive operations and was nicknamed “The Shadow” by Israeli intelligence for his elusive nature.
Sinwar joined Hamas in 1991 and quickly became a key member of its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. He was involved in several high-profile operations, including the 2006 abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, which led to a 2011 prisoner exchange that freed over 1,000 Palestinian detainees, including his brother Yahya. Israeli officials accused Mohammed Sinwar of being a co-architect of the October 7 attacks and described him as a hardliner who obstructed ceasefire negotiations.
Following the deaths of other top leaders—Yahya Sinwar in October 2024, Mohammed Deif in July 2024, and Ismail Haniyeh in July 2024—Mohammed assumed de facto control of Hamas’s military operations in Gaza. He was believed to oversee recruitment, strategy, and hostage-related decisions, making him a prime target for Israel.
The Israeli Strike and Delayed Confirmation
Israel first targeted Sinwar in an airstrike on May 13, 2025, on an underground command center beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet intelligence agency described the site as a Hamas operational hub deliberately located under civilian infrastructure, endangering lives. The strike killed at least 16 people and wounded over 70, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, though it did not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sinwar’s death on May 28, 2025, during a speech to the Knesset, listing him among other eliminated Hamas leaders: “We have killed tens of thousands of terrorists. We killed (Mohammed) Deif, (Ismail) Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar.” The IDF confirmed the killing on May 31, stating that Sinwar, along with Rafah Brigade commander Muhammad Shabana and South Khan Younis Battalion commander Mahdi Quara, was eliminated in the attack. On June 8, the IDF reported recovering Sinwar’s body from the tunnel.
Hamas initially neither confirmed nor denied the reports, a common tactic to avoid signaling weakness. Saudi media outlet Al-Hadath cited sources claiming Sinwar’s body was recovered from the tunnel alongside 10 aides. It was not until August 30, 2025—over three months later—that Hamas publicly acknowledged his death, releasing rare footage and images of the brothers and other commanders in a propaganda video.
Implications for the Conflict and Hamas Leadership
The confirmation of Sinwar’s death represents a major tactical victory for Israel, which has systematically targeted Hamas’s upper echelons since the war began nearly two years ago. Over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the territory’s health ministry, while Israel reports eliminating thousands of militants. The war has seen intermittent ceasefires, including a two-month truce that ended in March 2025, but hostilities continue with Israel vowing to dismantle Hamas entirely and secure the release of remaining hostages.
Analysts suggest Sinwar’s elimination could disrupt Hamas’s command chain but may not lead to an immediate strategic shift. The group has demonstrated resilience, recruiting new fighters to maintain around 20,000 operatives, per Israeli intelligence. Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade, is believed to have assumed control of the northern operations, while other figures like Khalil al-Hayya in exile remain influential. “Hamas is not a one-man show,” said Gaza-based political scientist Mkhaimar Abusada. “His death hurts, but it might even radicalize successors.”
The timing of Hamas’s confirmation coincides with renewed U.S.-led efforts for a ceasefire and hostage deal, with about 58 captives still held in Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned remaining leaders, including al-Haddad and al-Hayya, that “you are next in line.” U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism for a temporary truce, but Netanyahu has insisted on “total victory” over Hamas.
Hamas’s statement emphasized continuity, quoting Sinwar in archival footage: “Just as you are rooted here, so am I. I have thousands of seeds planted in this land.” The group portrayed the deaths as fuel for resistance, echoing past responses to leader assassinations that have often hardened its stance.
As the conflict enters its 20th month, Sinwar’s confirmed death underscores the high stakes and personal toll on both sides, with no clear end in sight.
Sources: Compiled from Reuters, The Times of Israel, Hindustan Times, CBS News, Newsweek, The New York Times, and posts on X from users including @Jerusalem_Post and @DD_Geopolitics.