• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the assassination of Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar.
• Sinwar’s death is believed to have occurred during a targeted airstrike on May 13 in Khan Younis.
• This event marks a substantial blow to Hamas leadership following the death of his brother, Yahya Sinwar.
• The ongoing conflict has resulted in substantial humanitarian crises in Gaza.
• No confirmation from Hamas on Sinwar's death has been publicly issued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’s de facto leader, during a parliamentary session. He stated that Sinwar was killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 13, 2025, aiming at a Hamas command center located underground in Khan Younis, Gaza. This strike is part of what Netanyahu described as a campaign to eliminate top Hamas operatives following the initial attack on Israel by Hamas forces in October 2023, which marked the beginning of a prolonged conflict between the sides, according to Reuters and CBS News.

Sinwar, 49, had risen to prominence after his brother Yahya Sinwar, a key architect of Hamas's October 7 attack, was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024. Mohammad Sinwar's leadership status and potential role in negotiations regarding hostages have gained considerable attention, especially given that he was considered one of the last prominent leaders within Hamas still operating in Gaza. Following his reported death, experts anticipate a considerable impact on both Hamas's operational integrity and potential leadership succession, as many Hamas leaders have been targeted or eliminated, as noted by The Hill and Le Monde.

Despite Israel's assertion, Hamas has not formally acknowledged Sinwar's death. His elimination, if confirmed, could create a significant power vacuum within the organization, which continues to maintain control over parts of Gaza despite heavy Israeli military campaigns since the onset of the conflict. The ongoing violence has resulted in severe humanitarian conditions across Gaza, exacerbated by Israeli military actions and a blockade that restricts essential supplies, as reported by South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.