Hamas has confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, who succeeded his brother, Yahya Sinwar, as the leader of Hamas in Gaza following Yahya’s death in October 2024.
On Saturday, Hamas officially acknowledged Mohammad Sinwar’s death but provided few details. Israel had previously claimed to have killed him in a May 13 airstrike in Khan Younis.
The announcement was accompanied by images of Sinwar alongside other deceased Hamas leaders, including former military chief Mohammad Deif, former political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and his brother Yahya Sinwar.
After Yahya Sinwar’s death on October 16, 2024, Mohammad Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas in Gaza and command of its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas has yet to name a political or military successor, likely due to security concerns, as any identified successor would become a key Israeli target.
On Saturday, Israel launched another airstrike in western Gaza City targeting Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida. The Israeli military claimed on Sunday that Obeida had been killed, but Hamas has not yet confirmed his death. Historically, the group has taken weeks or even months to officially acknowledge the deaths of senior figures.
It took over three months for Hamas to confirm Sinwar’s death, with the announcement coming only after a ceasefire agreement earlier this year. Similarly, Hamas delayed confirming the deaths of senior commanders Mohammad Deif and his deputy Marwan Issa—Deif was killed in July, and Issa in March—until January, roughly 10 months later.
Sinwar’s death marks the loss of one of the last original Hamas leaders directly involved in planning and commanding the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Despite this blow, Hamas continues to operate militarily and politically in Gaza, though its structures appear weakened as Israeli forces press to seize full control of Gaza City amid a the ever-worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.