Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar is likely dead after an Israeli airstrike targeted his hideout below a Gaza hospital, according to reports. Defense Minister Israel Katz said this at a closed-door parliamentary meeting.
Sinwar, the brother of October’s mastermind Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an air strike on Tuesday. However, Hamas-linked health officials have not confirmed this yet. The attack also injured over 70 people and killed at least 16 others.
The Israeli military later bombed the location to prevent further access to the underground compound. Sinwar became the de facto leader of Hamas after his brother’s death in October. He refused to negotiate for the release of Israeli hostages and thwarted cease-fire deals.
Sinwar spent nine months in Israeli prison in the 1990s and three years in a Palestinian Authority prison before escaping in 2000. Israel launched “extensive ground operations” in Gaza following over 670 airstrikes on Hamas’ infrastructure, including sites used for weapons production and antitank missile launchers.
The airstrike comes as Israel and Hamas engage in informal negotiations over a cease-fire deal that could free remaining Israeli hostages under US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s outline.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/05/19/world-news/israel-likely-killed-hamas-leader-mohammed-sinwar-in-gaza-offensive