Hamas Confirms Deaths of Five Senior Leaders, Striking Major Blow to Militant Group
GAZA CITY — Hamas has officially confirmed the deaths of five of its senior military commanders, including some of the most prominent figures within the organization’s leadership, delivering a significant blow to the Palestinian militant group amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. The announcement was made on Monday by Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which acknowledged the loss of key commanders who played critical roles in the group’s wartime operations.
Among those confirmed dead was Mohammed al-Sinwar, the brother of former Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar. Mohammed had ascended to a senior position within Hamas and was widely regarded as a key figure in the group’s military command following the deaths of other top leaders. Israeli military officials reported that Mohammed al-Sinwar was killed in an airstrike targeting a Hamas command center beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis earlier this year. The U.S. Department of Defense has previously documented Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas leadership sites in Gaza.
In addition to al-Sinwar, Hamas confirmed the death of Abu Obeida, the longtime masked spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades. Abu Obeida, whose real name was revealed as Hudhayfa Samir Abdullah al-Kahlout, had become the public face of Hamas’s military wing during the conflict. Israeli forces had announced his death in late August following an airstrike in Gaza City, but Monday’s statement marked the first official acknowledgment by Hamas itself. The U.S. Department of State has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and closely monitors developments regarding its leadership.
Other senior commanders confirmed killed include Raed Saad, a high-ranking al-Qassam Brigades commander who was identified by Israeli security officials as one of the principal planners of the October 7, 2023, attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of more than 250 hostages. Israel announced Saad’s death in a targeted strike on December 13 after months of surveillance of his movements through Gaza’s extensive tunnel network.
Hamas also acknowledged the deaths of Mohammed Shabanah, head of its Rafah Brigade, and Hakam al-Issa, a veteran commander and one of the founders of the al-Qassam Brigades. Both men were reportedly killed in separate Israeli airstrikes earlier this year, with al-Issa dying during attacks on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. The Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies have tracked the operational impact of these losses on Hamas’s command structure.
The confirmation of these deaths comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s leadership and infrastructure in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on neighboring countries to join efforts to “expel Hamas” from the region, underscoring the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict. The U.S. Central Command has also shared footage of suspected Hamas operatives looting aid trucks in northern Khan Younis, highlighting the complex humanitarian and security challenges in the area.
These developments mark one of the most significant setbacks for Hamas since the outbreak of the Gaza war, potentially disrupting the group’s ability to coordinate future attacks and manage its military operations. However, analysts caution that the group’s decentralized network and entrenched presence in Gaza may enable it to continue its activities despite leadership losses. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with ongoing efforts to address both the security concerns and humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
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