Announcement of Targeted Killing of Muhammad Sinwar and Other Senior Leaders
The Israeli military has officially confirmed that Muhammad Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was killed by Israeli forces in mid-May.
According to Israeli local and foreign media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet announced in a joint statement on May 31 (local time) that they had eliminated Sinwar, Muhammad Shabana, the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Qura, the commander of the southern Khan Younis Battalion, in an airstrike on the European Hospital in southern Khan Younis, Gaza, on May 13.
The IDF and Shin Bet stated, "These terrorists were eliminated while operating from a command and control center located underground beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately exposing civilians in and around the hospital to danger." This statement was released three days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported Sinwar's death to parliament on May 28.
Muhammad Sinwar is the brother of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's top political leader who orchestrated Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. After his brother was killed by Israeli forces in October last year, Muhammad Sinwar took over as the leader in Gaza.
On May 13, the Israeli military targeted Hamas leaders, including Sinwar, in an airstrike on the European Hospital in southern Khan Younis, but had not officially confirmed Sinwar's death until now.
The Israeli military also disclosed specific details of the operation. The IDF said that it prepared the airstrike after a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in early May indicated that senior Hamas officials would gather to discuss a ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
To avoid airstrikes, Sinwar had been moving with Israeli hostages close by. However, on the day of the attack, Israeli forces received intelligence that no hostages were near Sinwar and the senior Hamas officials, and thus carried out the strike. The IDF stated that an Israeli fighter jet, upon receiving authorization, launched more than 50 missiles in just 30 seconds, and after the initial strike, conducted several additional bombings around the area to prevent Hamas members from approaching to assist the wounded Sinwar.
The Israeli military stated that the precision missiles used in the attack accurately struck Hamas command and control facilities and underground tunnels, killing senior Hamas officials without collapsing the hospital building, and that they conducted intensive intelligence operations to minimize civilian casualties.
Immediately after the airstrike, the Gaza Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, announced that 16 people were killed and more than 70 were injured in the attack. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between Hamas fighters and civilians in its casualty figures. However, Hamas has not confirmed Sinwar's death.
Israeli authorities believe that Izz al-Din Haddad, a close associate of Muhammad Sinwar and commander of Hamas's Northern Brigade, will succeed him in commanding the remaining fighters in Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Haddad and other Hamas leaders in exile, such as Khalil al-Hayya, saying, "You will be next after Sinwar."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
