Israel confirms killing of new Hamas leader

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has officially confirmed the killing of Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar in an airstrike carried out earlier this month in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Sinwar took over Hamas after the IDF killed his brother Yahya Sinwar and senior commander Muhammad Deif in October 2024.

The announcement came as both sides reportedly signaled their readiness to accept a US-brokered ceasefire proposal.

The attack was carried out on May 13 in coordination with the Shin Bet security agency, according to an IDF statement released on May 31. The Israeli military said the target was an underground command center run by Hamas beneath the European Hospital.

"We have eliminated the Hamas leader, once again. He was also a member of the Sinwar family," the IDF wrote on X.

"The terrorists were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control center, underneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering civilians in and around the hospital," the IDF said.

The IDF said Sinwar played a "key role in planning and carrying out the brutal massacre of October 7".

Also killed in the operation were Muhammad Shabana, commander of Hamas' Rafah Brigade, and Mehdi Kuwara, head of the group's Khan Younis Battalion.The IDF identified both as key gunmen in the October 7, 2023 attack and as holding Israeli hostages.

Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied Sinwar’s death. The militant group has previously denied allegations of using civilian infrastructure as cover. Gaza health officials said at the time that 28 people were killed in the May 13 attack.

The attack was reported as Israel stepped up operations in Gaza, following the collapse of an internationally brokered ceasefire in March.

While reports suggest that both Israel and Hamas have agreed in principle to a new ceasefire framework, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that military operations will continue until Hamas is completely destroyed.

After the hospital attack, he vowed to "go in with full force to complete the operation and free the remaining hostages".