Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 28, 2025, that Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza chief and brother of the group’s deceased leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli strike targeting a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month. The announcement, made during a parliamentary address, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s campaign to dismantle Hamas’ leadership. Netanyahu claimed the strike was part of a broader effort that has eliminated key Hamas figures, including Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw over 250 taken hostage.

“In the last two days, we’ve made a dramatic turn toward Hamas’ complete defeat,” Netanyahu stated, also noting Israel’s new role in controlling Gaza’s aid distribution. The Israeli military has intensified operations since a ceasefire collapsed in March, aiming to cripple Hamas’ governance and military capabilities. Gaza health officials report over 53,000 deaths, mostly civilians, and 2 million displaced in the ongoing conflict. Hamas has not confirmed Mohammad Sinwar’s death. The war, now in its 20th month, continues to devastate Gaza, with reports of dozens of children dying from starvation amid the violence.