GAZA CITY, GAZA — The Palestinian militant group Hamas has officially confirmed the death of its Gaza military chief, Mohammad Sinwar, nearly three months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his elimination. In a statement released Sunday, and cited by Reuters, Hamas published photographs of Sinwar alongside other commanders, identifying them as “martyrs.” The group, however, did not provide any specific details about the circumstances of his death.
Mohammad Sinwar, the younger brother of former Hamas chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was a prominent military strategist within the organization. Both brothers were co-masterminds of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat a year after the attacks, paving the way for Mohammad’s rise to a senior leadership role.
In May, Prime Minister Netanyahu had addressed the Israeli parliament, stating that senior Hamas leaders had been “eliminated” in targeted strikes. He specifically named Mohammad Sinwar, along with others including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, as having been killed.
Following his brother Yahya’s death, Mohammad Sinwar assumed a leadership position within Hamas, and his confirmed death is expected to have an impact on the group’s hierarchy. According to Reuters, his longtime associate, Izz al-Din Haddad, who currently oversees operations in northern Gaza, is expected to take charge of Hamas’s armed wing across the entire enclave.
Born Mohammad Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, he spent decades climbing the ranks of Hamas. He was known to Israeli officials as “the shadow” due to his secretive nature and activities. He was a central figure in shaping Hamas’s militant strategy and gained significant notoriety for his role in the 2006 abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. That incident culminated in a major 2011 prisoner exchange deal, which secured the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including his brother Yahya Sinwar.
After serving time in both Israeli and Palestinian prisons, Mohammad Sinwar formally joined Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in 1991. He was widely regarded as the key architect behind the brutal October 2023 assault on Israel.