Israel Uncovers Hamas Tunnel Beneath Gaza Hospital, Finds Body of Sinwar’s Brother
Gaza — The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that it had uncovered a fortified Hamas tunnel complex beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza — where the body of Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Hamas’ top commander Yahya Sinwar, was reportedly discovered.
The underground tunnel system, located directly beneath the hospital’s emergency wing, also contained the body of senior Hamas commander Mohammad Shabana, head of the Rafah Brigade. Several other militants were also found dead in the tunnel, with identification still ongoing, according to IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
“This is another stark example of Hamas’ repeated use of civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes,” Defrin told reporters during a rare on-site briefing for foreign journalists. “Underneath the emergency room, we uncovered a series of fortified rooms used as a command and control hub. It is in one of these rooms that we located and neutralized Mohammed Sinwar.”
Sinwar’s death was first announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month. However, Israeli officials now confirm that DNA evidence has conclusively identified the body. Hamas has yet to issue any official response regarding the deaths of either Sinwar or Shabana.
Mohammed Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas political chief widely seen as the mastermind behind the October 2023 attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel — a raid that marked the beginning of the ongoing conflict. Yahya Sinwar himself was later reported killed in a separate operation.
Shabana, regarded as one of Hamas’s most battle-hardened field commanders, played a central role in designing the extensive tunnel networks beneath Rafah — routes used for ambushes and cross-border operations, including weapons smuggling and militant movement.
Inside the Tunnel
The tunnel beneath the European Hospital, described by IDF engineers as a “well-equipped and strategic operations base,” was reached via a trench dug near the hospital entrance. Israeli troops recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, intelligence documents, and cash during the operation.
“This facility was deliberately built under a hospital — another layer in Hamas’ cynical use of human shields,” Defrin stated. “We executed the strike with great caution to avoid damaging the hospital itself.”
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating within or beneath medical facilities throughout Gaza — a claim that Hamas denies. In some cases, Israel has presented video and structural evidence supporting its assertions, though international scrutiny remains intense, with several claims still pending independent verification.
Scenes of Destruction
The road leading into Khan Younis, once bustling with life, now bears the scars of war. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, buildings reduced to skeletal shells, and mounds of debris piled high along shattered roads.
The Israeli military has carried out repeated raids on hospitals and schools across Gaza, stating they have intelligence of militant presence in such sites. The European Hospital complex was one of the latest in a string of locations subjected to search-and-destroy missions.
Defrin reiterated Israel’s strategic objective: “We will dismantle Hamas. We cannot live with a terrorist organization embedded just across our border.”
Humanitarian Toll
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. The United Nations warns that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are now facing an imminent threat of famine, with aid efforts hampered by continued airstrikes and access restrictions.
As military operations continue, both sides remain locked in a war of narratives — one side citing existential security, the other, catastrophic human suffering.
