Mohammed Sinwar poised to become top Hamas military commander
Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar, is poised to become leader of Hamas’s military forces if it turns out that Mohammed Deif was indeed killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, according to an Arab media report.
Palestinians gather at the site of a Hamas compound in the southern Gaza area of Al-Mawasi after Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif was apparently killed in an airstrike on July 13, 2024. Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS-IL
Asharq al-Awsat, a London-based Arabic paper, reported that Mohammed Sinwar would “likely” replace Deif managing the work of Hamas’s depleted military council. Most of the council’s members have been eliminated in Israeli airstrikes.
Mohammed Sinwar, younger brother of Yahya Sinwar and commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis brigade, is considered one of the key planners of the October 7 attacks. A member of Hamas’s military council, Sinwar was responsible for the construction of the largest tunnel Israeli forces ever found in Gaza, which approached the Erez border crossing.
Unofficial sources in Gaza suggest that Muhammad Deif went underground but was exposed to displaced people in the area, potentially revealing his location to Israeli intelligence. Despite these reports, Israeli officials are awaiting final confirmation of his elimination.
Deif and Rafa’a Salameh, commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade, were in a fenced-off Hamas compound within the Mawasi humanitarian zone near Khan Yunis and not in the area of tent camps for displaced Palestinians, the army said.
The younger Sinwar has survived six assassination attempts. Many believe he will die with his brother in a tunnel in a last battle with Israeli forces.
In Israel, there is a strong belief that Deif was present with Salameh when the compound was hit. Sources in Gaza report that at least eight heavy bombs were dropped on the compound.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night that no hostages were in the vicinity of the strike. He said he approved the operation after being satisfied by the type of munitions used and the army’s estimate of collateral damage.
The 58-year-old Deif has been the overall commander of Hamas’s armed forces for 20 years. Deif has been at the top of Israel’s wanted list for decades for masterminding deadly bombings dating back to the 1990s. He went on to oversee Hamas’s rocket attacks and tunnel warfare. He also helped plan and gave final approval to the October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border. His family name is Masri, but he is known as Deif, which is Arabic for “guest” — a reference to his life on the run.
The elusive Deif has survived seven Israel assassination attempts.
Till now, the highest ranking Hamas figures eliminated by Israel were the terror group’s number three man, Marwan Issa and Hamas strategist Salah Arouri, who commanded the terror group’s operations in Judea and Samaria.
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 116 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed dead.
