‘He died the way he lived—underground’: Israel confirms Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar killed in May 13 strike; body found inside tunnel

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet safety company on Sunday confirmed that the body of Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar was found inside a tunnel situated beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.“Mohammad Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of countless civilians. He was eliminated in an IDF & ISA strike on May 13,” IDF mentioned in a submit on X. “His body was found beneath the European hospital in Khan Yunis—more proof of how Sinwar, and Hamas, hide behind their civilians and purposely embed themselves in civilian areas, such as hospitals,” the submit additional mentioned, including, “He died the way he lived—underground.”According to the army, the tunnel was utilized by Hamas as a command heart, The Times of Israel reported.(*13*)Israeli fighter jets bombarded the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis on May 13 to kill Muhammad Sinwar, one among Hamas’ remaining high leaders in the enclaveTroops reached the hospital a number of days earlier, and later retrieved the body of Sinwar together with the our bodies of different Hamas members, as per The Times of Israel report.The Israeli army mentioned that Sinwar was killed in an Israeli strike on the tunnel on May 13. The similar strike additionally killed Muhammad Shabana, the commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the group’s South Khan Younis Battalion.The IDF added that it found a number of gadgets belonging to Sinwar and Shabana inside the tunnel, together with ID playing cards. Weapons had been additionally recovered.The IDF mentioned that the identification course of has confirmed that one among the our bodies belongs to Sinwar, whereas the different our bodies are nonetheless being recognized.Earlier in May, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Hamas and Arab officers, that the assembly between Hamas leaders was held to speak about their place on ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal, amongst different subjects. After studying of the gathering, the Israeli Air Force started getting ready for a strike, The Times of Israel’s report mentioned. Senior officers believed it may be canceled over considerations that hostages could possibly be close by, as Sinwar was identified to maintain them shut.But as soon as intelligence confirmed that no hostages had been close to the commanders, the Israeli air pressure was given approval to hold out the assault. Jets had been launched, and the strike was executed.

Who was Muhammad Sinwar?

Muhammad Sinwar, a senior army determine in Hamas, was the youthful brother of former Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. He had been on Israel’s most needed checklist for a number of months. Israeli officers mentioned Sinwar had resisted efforts to barter a hostage deal and had blocked progress towards a ceasefire. After the demise of Muhammad Deif, Hamas’s high army commander, in July 2024, Sinwar took over the group’s army operations. Yahya Sinwar had been made the general Hamas leader after Israel killed Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in the similar month. When Yahya Sinwar was killed in fight in October 2024, Muhammad Sinwar turned the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.