Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Mohammed Sinwar, believed to be the head of Hamas’ armed wing, has been killed. The statement appears to confirm his death in a recent Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, although Hamas has not yet issued a confirmation, reported news agency Associated Press.

Mohammed Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the senior Hamas leader widely regarded as the architect of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024.

Israeli military operations have significantly diminished Hamas' leadership over the course of the 19-month conflict. Mohammed Sinwar was among the last prominent figures in the group believed to still be in Gaza. Despite these losses, Hamas continues to exercise control over parts of Gaza that remain outside Israeli occupation. The group also continues to hold dozens of hostages and launches intermittent attacks on Israeli forces, reported the Associated Press.