Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Jun 9: The Israeli military on Sunday announced that it had recovered the body of Mohammed Sinwar, head of Hamas’ military wing, from a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

According to a military statement, Sinwar, along with Muhammad Shabaneh, commander of Hamas' Rafah Brigade, was killed during a targeted operation on May 13, jointly conducted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet. The bodies were discovered during a raid launched on Wednesday, supported by intense airstrikes, which remains ongoing.

“Several items belonging to Sinwar and Shabaneh were found during the tunnel searches, along with other intelligence materials that are under investigation,” the military said. Additional bodies were also recovered and are undergoing identification.

Sinwar, 49, was considered one of Hamas' most senior military figures and played a key role in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. He was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ former Gaza leader, who was killed in October 2024.

The conflict continues to escalate. Gaza’s health authorities reported on Sunday that the death toll in the territory has reached 54,880 since October 2023, with over 126,000 others injured in Israeli attacks.