Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammad Sinwar After Months of Silence

Hamas has confirmed the death of Gaza military chief Mohammad Sinwar, months after Israel claimed he was killed in a strike. Sinwar, a key strategist and younger brother of slain leader Yahya Sinwar, played a major role in Hamas operations. Izz al-Din Haddad is expected to take over military leadership.

Hamas has officially confirmed the death of its top Gaza military commander, Mohammad Sinwar, nearly three months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he had been eliminated in a targeted strike. The announcement came via a statement and photographs shared by the group, which referred to Sinwar and several others as “martyrs,” though it did not detail the circumstances of his death.

Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader in Gaza and a key architect of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Yahya was killed in combat roughly a year after that assault, and his death cleared the path for Mohammad to rise to a leading role within Hamas' military wing.

Sinwar, a longtime militant figure, was considered one of Hamas’ most influential military strategists. Known to Israeli intelligence as “the shadow” for his elusiveness, he gained notoriety for orchestrating the 2006 abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit—a move that led to a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2011.

Born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, Sinwar officially joined Hamas’ military arm in 1991 and spent time in both Israeli and Palestinian prisons. His strategic mind and deep-rooted connections within the group solidified his place at the top of the organization’s armed operations in Gaza.

His confirmed death now shifts the leadership focus to Izz al-Din Haddad, currently overseeing northern Gaza operations. Analysts suggest Haddad is expected to assume command of Hamas’ military activities across the entire enclave.

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With the deaths of multiple senior figures, including Yahya and Mohammad Sinwar, the operational core of Hamas in Gaza faces a significant transition amid the ongoing Israeli offensive.