The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the discovery of an underground Hamas command centre beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, where they retrieved the body of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas military chief, killed in a targeted operation on May 13.
Mohammad Shabana, commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, and other militants were also found dead at the site, according to IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
Israeli forces led foreign reporters on a tour of the tunnel, located under the hospital’s emergency room, describing it as a key Hamas control hub. “Hamas cynically uses civilians as human shields, exploiting hospitals repeatedly,” Defrin said. The IDF recovered weapons, ammunition, cash, and documents, now under review for intelligence. A trench outside the emergency room led to the concrete tunnel, used as a hideout.
The IDF has confirmed that it located and seized the body of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar from under the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. Additional bodies were located and are still being identified. pic.twitter.com/SRoiqsZ3Uv
— Unpacked (@unpackedmedia) June 8, 2025Defrin noted that the operation was planned to avoid damaging the hospital. Hamas has not commented on the deaths or the tunnel allegations, which align with Israel’s claims that the group embeds military operations in civilian infrastructure a charge Hamas denies.
Mohammed Sinwar, brother of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was a key planner of the October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, triggering the ongoing Gaza conflict. Shabana, a veteran commander, built Rafah’s tunnel network for ambushes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Sinwar’s death last month, with DNA evidence now verifying his identity.
The Israel Defense Force has announced the identification of the body of Mohammed Sinwar, the Leader of Hamas’ Military Wing who was eliminated last month by a precision-strike from the Israeli Air Force targeting a Hamas command-and-control center located beneath the European… pic.twitter.com/BHurBnvb2M
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 8, 2025The conflict has claimed over 54,000 Palestinian lives, per Gaza health authorities, with the UN warning of famine risks for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Khan Younis shows widespread destruction, with rubble lining roads.
Israel’s raids on Gaza hospitals have drawn scrutiny, with some evidence supporting military use by Hamas, though certain claims remain unverified. The IDF vows to dismantle Hamas, citing security threats.
