Israel ‘probably’ killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, Netanyahu says, vowing all of Gaza will be under Israeli control
This screengrab from a video released by the Israeli army allegedly shows Mohammed Sinwar traveling in a car through a tunnel near the Erez crossing
By Oren Liebermann, Tim Lister and Lauren Izso, CNN
Jerusalem (CNN) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has “probably” killed Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’ elusive de facto leader in Gaza.
“We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists,” said Netanyahu at a press conference on Wednesday evening. “We eliminated the leaders of the murderers Deif, Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and probably Mohammad Sinwar.”
Israel targeted Sinwar in a massive set of strikes on the European hospital in Khan Younis last week. The attack killed 28 Palestinians and wounded more than 50 others, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said after the strike.
If Sinwar’s death is confirmed, it would be the latest in a string of assassinations that have dealt a serious blow to the group’s top brass but are yet to break its grip on power.
Sinwar is the brother of former leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in southern Gaza in October.
CNN has reached out to Hamas for comment.
In his first press conference in months, Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would not stop its newly launched military operation in Gaza.
“Our forces are capturing more and more territory in Gaza,” he said. “At the end of the operation all areas of the Strip will be under Israeli security control.”
Netanyahu said that Israel could agree to a temporary ceasefire that includes the release of hostages, but an end to the war would only come with a list of conditions, including the demilitarization of Gaza, the overthrow of Hamas, and the implementation of the US plan for voluntary emigration from the besieged enclave.
“Gaza will be completely demilitarized, and we will carry out the Trump plan, which is so correct and so revolutionary, and it says something simple: The residents of Gaza who wish to leave – will be able to leave,” he said.
“Anyone who calls on us to stop the war before these goals are achieved is calling on us to leave Hamas in power,” Netanyahu said.
In February, Trump put forward a proposal for the United States to “take over” Gaza, relocate Palestinians to neighboring countries, and redevelop the war-torn enclave into what he described as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The proposal was a stunning break with decades of US foreign policy, which has long emphasized a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and sent shockwaves through the region.
Netanyahu also said there is “full coordination” with the United States on Iran as the Trump administration pursues a new nuclear deal with Tehran. He said any deal would have to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and stop the enrichment of uranium. CNN reported on Tuesday that US intelligence suggests Israel is preparing a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“The state of Israel maintains the right to defend itself against a regime that threatens to destroy it,” said Netanyahu.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The-CNN-Wire
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