Israeli forces struck an underground Hamas command center beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis on Tuesday in an attempt to kill Hamas’s new leader in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar.
“Hamas continues to exploit hospitals in the Gaza Strip for terrorist activities, callously using the civilian population within and around the hospital as a shield,” the IDf said in a statement following the operation.
Born in Khan Younis refugee camp in 1975, Mohammed Sinwar has survived a remarkable six assassination attempts throughout his Hamas career. Following his older brother Yahya Sinwar’s elimination by Israeli forces in October, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mohammed Sinwar took over direct command of Gaza operations and is now directing all negotiations with Israel.
Under his leadership, Hamas has intensified recruitment efforts by promising food and medical assistance to families. Most of Mohammed’s recruitment efforts reportedly take place at funerals and prayer gatherings. Estimates now suggest that Hamas has approximately 15,000 new operatives despite the heavy damage inflicted on its infrastructure by the IDF.
Mohammed is believed to be responsible for planning the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006. Dubbed “The Shadow” for his ability to operate beneath the radar, Mohammed turned the Shalit kidnapping into a family victory. The young Israeli soldier became valuable currency in a high-stakes prisoner swap that ultimately freed Mohammed’s brother from Israeli prison in 2011.
The brothers’ bond would prove lethal. Together they helped orchestrate the devastating attack against Israel that left more than 1,200 dead and saw 251 people taken hostage on October 7, 2023.
His whereabouts have remained elusive throughout the war, mirroring the disappearance of Hamas’ upper echelon in Gaza. In December, Israeli forces circulated video allegedly depicting Mohammed moving through subterranean infrastructure, followed by a February announcement of locating his command center in west Khan Younis.
According to the Hamas run Palestinian Ministry of Health, Tuesday’s strike killed six Arabs and wounded at least 40 more, but both Palestinian authorities and the Israeli military have remained silent regarding the notorious terrorist’s fate.
“There is little chance the war can end before he dies,” Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro tells CNN. “His removal could open the door for the release of all hostages and beginning to move toward a post-war future for Gaza without Hamas.”
Meanwhile, Israel has issued evacuation warnings for the Jabalya refugee camp and nearby areas in northern Gaza, after the IDF intercepted two rockets fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists on Tuesday night.
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