Hamas has formally confirmed the deaths of 5 senior leaders, marking one of the important blows to the fear group for the reason that begin of the Gaza conflict, in response to reviews.
In a press release launched on Monday by the group’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas mentioned that Mohammed al-Sinwar, the brother of former Hamas chief Yahya al-Sinwar, was killed throughout Israeli navy operations in Gaza, in response to the Jerusalem Publish.
Al-Sinwar had risen to a senior function inside the group and was broadly considered as a key determine in Hamas’ wartime command following the deaths of different prime commanders.
The Israeli navy additionally mentioned in Might that he had been killed in an airstrike focusing on a Hamas command heart beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis.
Hamas didn’t instantly specify the precise date of his dying however acknowledged he had been killed earlier this 12 months.
Hamas additionally confirmed the dying of Abu Obeida, the longtime masked spokesman of the al-Qassam Brigades, who turned the general public face of the group’s navy wing in the course of the conflict, per Reuters.
In its announcement, Hamas revealed for the primary time that his actual title was Hudhayfa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout.
In line with Israeli statements, Abu Obeida was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza Metropolis in late August.
Whereas Israel had beforehand introduced his dying, Monday’s assertion marked the primary official affirmation by Hamas itself.
Among the many different senior figures confirmed useless was Raed Saad, a high-ranking commander inside the al-Qassam Brigades, the Instances of Israel reported.
Israel had introduced Dec. 13 that Saad had been killed in a focused strike after months of monitoring his actions by way of Gaza’s tunnel community.
Israeli safety officers described Saad as one of many principal planners of the Oct. 7, 2023, assault the place round 1,200 individuals have been killed and greater than 250 have been taken hostage.
Hamas additionally acknowledged the deaths of Mohammed Shabanah, the pinnacle of its Rafah Brigade, and Hakam al-Issa, a veteran commander and one of many founders of the al-Qassam Brigades.
Each males have been reported by Israel to have been killed in separate airstrikes in Gaza earlier this 12 months, with al-Issa dying throughout assaults on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza Metropolis.
The confirmations got here regardless of a ceasefire that took impact in October.
Talking Monday after assembly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, President Trump additionally warned that Hamas should disarm quickly or face extreme penalties.
“They’re going to be given a really brief time frame to disarm,” Trump mentioned.
The president added that the subsequent part of the Gaza peace plan may transfer ahead rapidly if Hamas lays down its weapons.
