 "Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AP File")
Israel has “probably killed” Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Mohammed Sinwar, thought to have held significant command over Hamas’s military wing, was long rumoured to have been killed in an airstrike on a Gaza hospital earlier this month. However, until now, neither Hamas nor Israel had officially confirmed his death.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country’s military campaign, saying that Israeli forces had “eliminated dozens of terrorists,” and named Mohammed Sinwar among those believed to be dead.
His brother, Yahya Sinwar — widely regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel — was killed in Gaza last year following a prolonged manhunt by Israeli forces.
At a press conference following two days of mounting criticism over the Gaza conflict, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel was open to a “temporary ceasefire” to facilitate the return of hostages.
He said that 20 Israeli hostages were confirmed to be “certainly alive.”
“If there is an option for a temporary ceasefire to free hostages, we’ll be ready,” The National quoted Netanyahu as saying.
A previous truce ran from January to March, before Israel began seizing large parts of territory in a resumed assault on Gaza.
Netanyahu said Israeli forces would maintain full control over Gaza by the end of their latest offensive, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The extended conflict, coupled with an 11-week blockade on aid, has strained Israel’s relationships with even its closest allies.
Impact Shorts
View AllAccording to the UN, no humanitarian aid has been distributed in Gaza despite limited deliveries resuming this week following the Israeli blockade.
“None of the supplies have been able to leave the Karam Abu Salem loading area,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, citing security concerns and the high risk of looting due to extreme deprivation. He noted that Israeli authorities had only permitted access to areas considered unsafe for aid distribution.
Israel reported that 98 trucks carrying items like baby food, flour, and medicine entered Gaza via the crossing on Monday and Tuesday.
With inputs from agencies