Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the 600th day of the Gaza conflict, introduced that the navy had killed Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’s prime commander in Gaza and brother of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
“We drove the terrorists out of our territory, entered the Gaza Strip with drive, eradicated tens of hundreds of terrorists, eradicated… Mohammed Sinwar,” Netanyahu advised the Israeli parliament.
Sinwar, dubbed “the shadow” and “the ghost” for his secretive operations, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Might 13 close to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, in response to Israeli media.
Hamas didn’t reply to AFP’s request for affirmation. And, Israeli navy sources, in response to Sky Information, have acknowledged that they aren’t but capable of affirm his demise.
Key terrorist leaders eradicated
Mohammed Sinwar’s killing, if confirmed, marks one other blow to Hamas’s senior management. For the reason that conflict started in October 2023, Israel has claimed the assassinations of a number of high-ranking figures together with:
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political chief; Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’s armed wing; and Yahya Sinwar, the October 7 mastermind and Mohammed’s brother.
Mohammed Sinwar had been linked to the 2006 kidnapping of French-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and reportedly performed a vital function in securing his launch in 2011, which noticed the trade of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners—together with Yahya Sinwar.
Ceasefire talks see glints of hope
Because the conflict drags on, indicators of motion towards a ceasefire emerged. US envoy Steve Witkoff voiced optimism in Washington: “I’ve some excellent emotions about attending to a long-term decision, momentary ceasefire, and a peaceable decision of that battle,” Witkoff was quoted as saying.
Hamas mentioned on Tuesday it had agreed “in precept” to Witkoff’s proposal. The group supplied to launch 10 hostages in trade for the releasing of Palestinians jailed in Israel. Nevertheless, it stopped wanting agreeing to disarm or ship leaders into exile—situations Israel has demanded.
There was no rapid response from Israel or the US to Hamas’s assertion.
UN slams US-backed support
Tensions escalated across the US- and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF), which operates individually from the UN’s conventional support system.
A chaotic support distribution on Tuesday left 47 injured and not less than one lifeless, in response to a Palestinian medical supply. The UN’s human rights chief for the Palestinian territories, Ajith Sunghay, claimed most accidents got here from Israeli gunfire.
Israel’s navy denied this, saying solely warning photographs have been fired into the air. GHF additionally denied that civilians have been shot and mentioned operations had resumed “with out incident.”
Mounting civilian toll
As Israel steps up its offensive, Gaza’s well being ministry mentioned 3,924 Palestinians have died since March 18 alone. The overall demise toll in Gaza stands at over 54,000, with the overwhelming majority being civilians, in response to the Hamas-run authority.
The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 individuals in Israel and kidnapped 250. Over 400 Israeli troopers have since been killed within the ongoing floor operations in Gaza.
