Israel’s military has confirmed that it has identified the body of Mohammed Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, which was discovered in a tunnel under a hospital in Khan Younis. The body was found alongside that of another Hamas commander, and several items belonging to Sinwar were recovered. Israel claims this discovery vindicates its previous accusations that Hamas uses hospitals as hiding places for weapons and command centers.
Sinwar, 49, was killed in an air strike on May 13th, which also claimed the lives of 28 people and injured dozens. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) verified his identity through DNA checks, although Hamas has not publicly confirmed his death.
The IDF says Sinwar’s body was found in a tunnel under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, along with other bodies that are still being identified. The military released footage of the tunnel and its entrance, showing a narrow underground corridor leading to several rooms, including piles of clothes and plastic chairs.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using hospitals as hiding places for weapons and command centers, claims the group denies. The discovery of Sinwar’s body is seen by Israel as further evidence of this claim.
The news comes amid renewed fighting in Gaza, following the collapse of a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal several months ago. At least 54,880 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Sinwar joined Hamas shortly after its founding in the late 1980s and rose through the ranks to become commander of the Khan Younis Brigade by 2005. He was also close to another of Hamas’s previous military chiefs, Mohammed Deif, and had been involved in planning a deadly attack on Israel in October.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62veqrq3yzo