On Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces claimed they discovered the body of a senior Qassam Brigades commander, Mohammad Al-Sanwar, during a search and sweep operation in the southeast region of Khan Younis.
According to Israeli Army Radio, the body—believed to belong to Al-Sanwar—was found in an underground tunnel complex in Khan Younis, alongside the remains of ten other Palestinian fighters.
Just days earlier, the occupation had announced it had assassinated Mohammad Al-Sanwar, a key military figure in the Qassam Brigades, as well as Mohammad Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Kawaraa, leader of the South Khan Younis Battalion. The assassinations reportedly occurred on May 13, during simultaneous airstrikes targeting a Hamas command tunnel network.
According to the occupation’s narrative, the operation took place while the resistance commanders were gathered in an underground command and control centre beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis. The Israeli military claims the Southern Command and Air Force carried out the attack with real-time intelligence support from military intelligence and the Shin Bet (Shabak), and that the decision-making involved direct oversight from the Israeli Chief of Staff and the head of Shin Bet.
The report further alleges that the underground infrastructure was extensive and highly complex, and was struck using advanced technologies, precise planning, and joint coordination between the Air Force and intelligence services.
Heavy aerial bombardment, the report states, targeted the tunnel network where senior Hamas commanders—including Mohammad Al-Sanwar and Mohammad Shabana—were believed to be stationed. It also claims, without evidence, that hospital operations were unaffected during the attack.
Who Was Mohammad Al-Sanwar?
Mohammad Al-Sanwar was one of the most senior and longstanding commanders within the military wing of Hamas. He played a central role in planning and executing the October 7 offensive, serving as head of the operations room during the attack.
Following the reported martyrdom of Mohammad Al-Deif, Al-Sanwar was appointed by his brother, Yahya Al-Sanwar, to lead the military wing. He became a key strategist and decision-maker in shaping the military doctrine and operational direction of Hamas, actively working to revive and empower the resistance apparatus.
Previously, he had served as commander of the Khan Younis Brigade and head of the military wing’s operations center. He was also reportedly involved in the planning and execution of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held for several years in Gaza.
Other Figures Reportedly Targeted
According to the occupation’s version, Mohammad Shabana was another central planner in the October 7 operation and oversaw the capture of multiple Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. He also led various military operations targeting Israeli forces, and launched rocket barrages from Rafah toward occupied territories.
As for Mahdi Kawaraa, he began his journey with Hamas as a weapons specialist and military activist in the Khan Younis Brigade. Over time, he rose through the ranks, eventually serving as elite unit commander, and most recently, as leader of the South Khan Younis Battalion.
