The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it has recovered the body of Mohammed Sinwar, the head of Hamas’ military wing, from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. Sinwar’s body was retrieved from an underground tunnel located beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, following identification processes, according to an official statement.
Sinwar, aged 49, was one of Hamas’ most senior and long-serving commanders. He was reported to have played a central role in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The military operation that led to the discovery of his body began on Wednesday under heavy airstrikes and is still ongoing, the Israeli military stated.
The operation also led to the recovery of the body of Muhammad Shabaneh, commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade. Both Sinwar and Shabaneh were killed on May 13 by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, the statement added.
Mohammed Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader in Gaza, who was reportedly killed by the Israeli military in October 2024.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. Gaza’s health authorities reported on Sunday that Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of 54,880 Palestinians since October 2023, with 126,227 others injured.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Qatar News Agency, citing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), reported that the healthcare system in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse. The ICRC highlighted an escalation in hostilities around the few remaining operational hospitals in Gaza and called for the preservation of healthcare facilities to prevent further loss of life.
“Medical staff face immense challenges in saving lives under fire, threatening their safety and the continued operation of field hospitals,” the ICRC stated.
In a related development, Israeli forces boarded a charity vessel attempting to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of the Israeli naval blockade. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) reported early on Monday that the yacht, named Madleen, was carrying a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula.
The Israeli Navy intercepted the vessel, urging it to change course. “The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to naval traffic as part of a legal naval blockade,” an Israeli soldier said via loudspeaker. “If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the port of Ashdod.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza on Sunday.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as international agencies continue to call for de-escalation and the safeguarding of civilian lives and infrastructure.
