Overview

• The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced on May 31 that an airstrike on May 13 beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis eliminated Muhammad Sinwar and two other senior Hamas commanders.
• Sinwar succeeded his brother Yahya Sinwar as Hamas’s de facto Gaza leader in October 2024 and was accused of planning the October 7, 2023, attacks and blocking ceasefire negotiations.
• Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 28 Palestinians were killed and more than 50 wounded in the strike, which the IDF says targeted an underground command centre.
• Hamas has not confirmed or denied Sinwar’s death, leaving uncertainty over the group’s leadership as Israel intensifies its campaign against senior figures.
• The operation represents the latest step in Israel’s effort to dismantle Hamas’s command network as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.