Netanyahu Confirms Killing of Top Hamas Leader Mohamed Sinwar/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli PM Netanyahu confirms senior Hamas commander Mohamed Sinwar killed. Gaza continues facing humanitarian catastrophe amid aid distribution violence. UAE condemns Israeli nationalist march; France and Indonesia call for peace.
Netanyahu Confirms Hamas Leader’s Death + Quick Looks
- Confirmed Strike: PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced Mohamed Sinwar’s death in parliament.
- Hamas Connection: Sinwar was the brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
- Gaza Toll: Israeli campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, per Gaza officials.
- Aid Chaos: Food distribution breakdown leads to death, injuries in Rafah.
- UAE Protest: Israel’s Jerusalem march denounced for “Death to Arabs” chants.
- Global Diplomacy: France, Indonesia push two-state solution and humanitarian relief.
- Yemen Strike: Israel destroys last Houthi-operated plane in Sanaa airstrike.
- UN Criticism: UN distances itself from controversial Gaza aid network.
Deep Look: Netanyahu Confirms Death of Senior Hamas Leader Sinwar
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday that Israeli forces had killed senior Hamas figure Mohamed Sinwar in a targeted airstrike. Speaking to the Knesset, Netanyahu included Sinwar in a list of top Hamas operatives eliminated in recent operations within the Gaza Strip.
“We eliminated Mohammad Deif, (Ismail) Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohamed Sinwar,” Netanyahu said, confirming the death to the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset.
“In the last two days we have been in a dramatic turn towards a complete defeat of Hamas,” he said, adding that Israel was also “taking control of food distribution”, a reference to a new aid distribution system in Gaza managed by a U.S.-backed group.
Mohamed Sinwar was the brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas political chief in Gaza and one of the key architects of the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. Yahya was confirmed killed in 2024 by Israeli special forces.
The death comes amid escalating violence and humanitarian turmoil in Gaza. After nearly three months of sealed borders and Israeli bombardments, the population is facing a looming famine, with food aid becoming a flashpoint.
Chaos at Aid Distribution Hub
On Tuesday, a new aid distribution center outside Rafah, established by the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), descended into chaos. Thousands of desperate Palestinians breached security fences in a rush for supplies. Gunfire was heard, and flares were fired from helicopters.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least one person was killed and 48 others wounded. The source of the gunfire remains unclear—whether it came from Israeli forces, private contractors, or others operating in the volatile zone.
The UN and other humanitarian groups have refused to cooperate with GHF, arguing the model compromises neutrality and risks being used as leverage against civilians.
“It is exposing people to death and injury,” said Ajith Sunghay of the UN Human Rights Office.
Rising Casualties and Ongoing War
Since the October 7 attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 kidnapped, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has intensified. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinians killed, including large numbers of women and children. Israel says it remains committed to defeating Hamas and rescuing the remaining 58 hostages.
UAE Condemns Anti-Arab Jerusalem March
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest what it described as violent incitement against Muslims during a nationalist march in Jerusalem’s Old City. The controversial annual event saw ultranationalists chant “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn” while parading through Muslim neighborhoods.
“These practices represent dangerous incitement,” the UAE’s Foreign Ministry declared. The UAE normalized ties with Israel in 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords but has been increasingly vocal against Israeli actions in Gaza.
Diplomatic Pressure Mounts for Ceasefire
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reiterated their support for a two-state solution in a joint press conference. Macron reaffirmed that France, alongside Saudi Arabia, will host a conference at the United Nations in June aimed at reviving Palestinian statehood talks.
“France does not accept double standards,” Macron said. Subianto added that Indonesia is prepared to recognize Israel if a Palestinian state is also recognized—highlighting a potential path to normalization.
Israel Strikes Yemen Airport Again
In a separate escalation, Israeli forces bombed the international airport in Sanaa, Yemen, destroying the last remaining plane of the national airline, Yemenia. The strikes followed multiple missile attacks on Israel by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. While most missiles were intercepted, some caused minor damage.
The airport had just resumed limited service following earlier Israeli strikes that destroyed its terminal. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the destruction of Houthi aerial assets and vowed continued retaliation.
UN Disavows Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that the UN has “nothing to do” with the new aid system operated by the GHF. He emphasized that it violates UN humanitarian standards of neutrality and independence.
“This is not how we do humanitarian work,” Dujarric said, citing challenges in coordinating with Israeli authorities and safely delivering aid across war-ravaged Gaza.
