In a major escalation of its military campaign in Gaza, Israel targeted senior Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar in an airstrike on the European Hospital in Khan Younis on Tuesday evening, according to a senior Israeli official and multiple sources familiar with the operation.

Mohammad Sinwar has emerged as a key figure in Hamas leadership, especially after the death of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, in an Israeli military operation last October. Yahya Sinwar had long served as the top commander of Hamas in Gaza. Following his death, Mohammad assumed a more prominent leadership role within the group, especially its military wing.

Israel Confirms Strike on Hamas Command Centre

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) released a joint statement confirming the strike, stating it was aimed at a Hamas command and control center embedded in underground infrastructure beneath the hospital. “The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists in a command and control center, located in an underground terrorist infrastructure site beneath the European hospital in Khan Yunis,” the statement read.

Israel accused Hamas of using hospitals and civilian areas to shield its military operations, calling it “a cynical and brutal use of the civilian population.” The IDF said it took steps to minimise civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided weapons and real-time aerial surveillance.

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Casualties And Chaos 

The strike has reportedly caused widespread devastation. Dr. Saleh Al Hams, head of nursing at the European Hospital, described the situation as “a catastrophe,” saying several people were buried under rubble while emergency teams tried to evacuate patients, as reported by CNN.

Targeting Follows Hostage Release by Hamas

The attempted assassination of Mohammad Sinwar comes just one day after Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, calling it a goodwill gesture toward the United States. Reports suggest this exchange was negotiated directly with US President Donald Trump’s team, bypassing the Israeli government.

Sinwar Known for Hardline Stance

Israeli officials have long viewed Mohammad Sinwar as a hardliner within Hamas, especially resistant to any compromise over hostage releases. His prominence increased after the killing of Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel may have used a bunker-buster bomb in the Khan Younis strike, aiming to penetrate deep underground to reach Sinwar. 

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