Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Tuesday evening in an attempt to eliminate Muhammad Sinwar, one of Hamas' remaining senior figures in the region, according to three Israeli officials who spoke anonymously to The New York Times due to lack of authorization to comment publicly.
Around the same time, the Israeli military reported it had targeted a Hamas command centre located beneath the European Hospital near Khan Younis.
However, a military spokesperson did not confirm to the news outlet whether Sinwar was specifically targeted in that strike. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least six people were killed and over 40 injured in the bombing.
Footage verified by NYT showed thick smoke rising around the hospital following the attack. It remains unclear whether the hospital buildings were directly damaged. A doctor at the hospital, Saleh al-Hams, said the strike shook the facility and caused panic among both staff and patients. “Our pleas to the world were ignored,” he said over the phone.
Hospital strikes & hostage demands
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating from within medical facilities in Gaza—allegations that have been echoed by some Palestinians and former Israeli hostages.
However, Hamas and hospital administrators have consistently denied such claims.
Israel has warned of further military escalation unless Hamas agrees to disarm and return the 20 hostages still believed to be alive, as well as the remains of approximately 40 more. Hamas leaders have refused, stating they will not free captives without a complete halt to hostilities.
Muhammad Sinwar’s role
Muhammad Sinwar is considered one of the last high-ranking Hamas commanders left in Gaza.
He is the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces last year and had orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war.
According to the NYT report, throughout the conflict, Israel has focused on systematically eliminating Hamas leadership, targeting figures like Yahya Sinwar, military chief Mohammed Deif, and political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Despite these efforts, Hamas has not accepted Israeli conditions for a truce.
Two of the Israeli officials suggested to the newspaper that killing Muhammad Sinwar could remove a particularly rigid figure in ceasefire talks.
Sinwar had served as the head of operations in Hamas’ military wing during the 2023 assault on Israel and has taken on a greater leadership role in southern Gaza since his brother's death.
While Israel hopes his removal could eventually bring flexibility in negotiations, past patterns suggest an initial hardening of Hamas' stance. For instance, NYT noted that after Yahya Sinwar’s death in October, Hamas vowed greater resistance—though it later agreed to a truce three months afterward.
The Israeli military typically delays public confirmation of high-profile targets’ deaths, and Hamas often waits even longer to acknowledge them. For example, the death of Mohammed Deif was only confirmed by Israel weeks after the July strike, and Hamas didn’t publicly respond until January.
Sources from Israel and a Middle Eastern intelligence agency told The New York Times that Muhammad Sinwar strongly opposed any truce involving disarmament or exile, unlike some external Hamas leaders pushing for compromise.
The intelligence official also noted Sinwar had rejected Israeli proposals to leave Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal.
Like other top Hamas operatives, Sinwar is believed to have spent most of the war in hiding to avoid Israeli strikes. Yet intelligence reports indicate he has surfaced publicly on a few occasions in Khan Younis, including visits to Nasser Hospital and a residential complex known as Hamad City.
Around the same time, the Israeli military reported it had targeted a Hamas command centre located beneath the European Hospital near Khan Younis.
However, a military spokesperson did not confirm to the news outlet whether Sinwar was specifically targeted in that strike. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least six people were killed and over 40 injured in the bombing.
Footage verified by NYT showed thick smoke rising around the hospital following the attack. It remains unclear whether the hospital buildings were directly damaged. A doctor at the hospital, Saleh al-Hams, said the strike shook the facility and caused panic among both staff and patients. “Our pleas to the world were ignored,” he said over the phone.
Hospital strikes & hostage demands
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating from within medical facilities in Gaza—allegations that have been echoed by some Palestinians and former Israeli hostages.
However, Hamas and hospital administrators have consistently denied such claims.
Israel has warned of further military escalation unless Hamas agrees to disarm and return the 20 hostages still believed to be alive, as well as the remains of approximately 40 more. Hamas leaders have refused, stating they will not free captives without a complete halt to hostilities.
Muhammad Sinwar’s role
Muhammad Sinwar is considered one of the last high-ranking Hamas commanders left in Gaza.
He is the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces last year and had orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war.
According to the NYT report, throughout the conflict, Israel has focused on systematically eliminating Hamas leadership, targeting figures like Yahya Sinwar, military chief Mohammed Deif, and political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Despite these efforts, Hamas has not accepted Israeli conditions for a truce.
Two of the Israeli officials suggested to the newspaper that killing Muhammad Sinwar could remove a particularly rigid figure in ceasefire talks.
Sinwar had served as the head of operations in Hamas’ military wing during the 2023 assault on Israel and has taken on a greater leadership role in southern Gaza since his brother's death.
While Israel hopes his removal could eventually bring flexibility in negotiations, past patterns suggest an initial hardening of Hamas' stance. For instance, NYT noted that after Yahya Sinwar’s death in October, Hamas vowed greater resistance—though it later agreed to a truce three months afterward.
The Israeli military typically delays public confirmation of high-profile targets’ deaths, and Hamas often waits even longer to acknowledge them. For example, the death of Mohammed Deif was only confirmed by Israel weeks after the July strike, and Hamas didn’t publicly respond until January.
Sources from Israel and a Middle Eastern intelligence agency told The New York Times that Muhammad Sinwar strongly opposed any truce involving disarmament or exile, unlike some external Hamas leaders pushing for compromise.
The intelligence official also noted Sinwar had rejected Israeli proposals to leave Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal.
Like other top Hamas operatives, Sinwar is believed to have spent most of the war in hiding to avoid Israeli strikes. Yet intelligence reports indicate he has surfaced publicly on a few occasions in Khan Younis, including visits to Nasser Hospital and a residential complex known as Hamad City.
