The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday evening, May 13, 2025, conducted a series of airstrikes on the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, targeting Mohammed Sinwar, the defacto leader of Hamas, according to a senior Israeli official and two sources familiar with the matter.
The operation, aimed at a suspected Hamas command and control center located in underground infrastructure beneath the hospital, resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage, raising concerns about the humanitarian impact.
A High-Profile Target
Mohammed Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, following the assassination of his brother, Yahya Sinwar, by Israeli forces in October 2024.
Israeli officials describe Mohammed as a hardline figure with extensive military experience, having previously commanded the Khan Younis Brigade until 2016.
The IDF’s strike was based on intelligence indicating Sinwar’s presence in the underground facility, though officials noted it could take days to confirm whether he was killed.
The operation involved bunker-busting bombs and targeted the exits of the underground compound to prevent survivors from escaping, according to defense sources.
The IDF and Shin Bet emphasized that Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, for terrorist activities, a claim Hamas denies.
Civilian Toll and Hospital Damage
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the strikes killed at least six people and wounded over 40 others, though Gaza’s civil defense force and other sources cited higher death tolls, ranging from 16 to 28.
Dr. Saleh Al Hams, head of nursing at the European Hospital, described the scene as “a catastrophe,” with multiple airstrikes hitting the hospital’s courtyard, leaving some people trapped under rubble.
Medical teams struggled to transfer patients to safer units within the facility.
Images and videos from the scene showed massive craters, overturned concrete, and towering plumes of smoke, indicating some of the heaviest strikes in Gaza in recent weeks.
A bus was reported to have fallen into a crater caused by the attack, further illustrating the extent of the destruction.
Hamas Denies Claims, Regional Tensions Escalate
Hamas issued a statement rejecting Israel’s claims about targeting Sinwar, asserting that only its official platforms can confirm or deny such reports.
The group accused Israel of using such allegations to justify attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The strike comes at a sensitive time, as ceasefire negotiations are set to resume in Doha.
The targeting of Sinwar, perceived as a hardliner in hostage talks, could complicate efforts to secure a deal, especially after Hamas’ recent release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration.
Posts on social media reflected mixed sentiments, with some condemning Hamas for allegedly using hospitals as shields, while others criticized Israel for the civilian toll.
Broader Context of the Conflict
The attack follows a pattern of Israeli strikes on Gaza’s medical facilities, including a separate strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis earlier that day, which killed Palestinian journalist Hassan Eslaih, accused by Israel of being a Hamas operative.
The ongoing war, reignited after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, has devastated Gaza, with thousands killed and much of the territory’s infrastructure destroyed.
As the IDF continues its campaign to dismantle Hamas’ leadership, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with hospitals struggling to operate amid repeated attacks.
The international community, including mediators in Doha, faces increasing pressure to broker a lasting ceasefire.
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