CAIRO — Hamas confirmed on Monday the deaths of two key figures in its military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Sinwar, its former leader, and Abu Ubaida, the movement’s longtime spokesman. The announcement, released several months after Israel’s military reported their deaths, marks a rare public acknowledgment from the group amid its protracted conflict with Israel in Gaza.
“We mourn the head of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Sinwar… and the spokesman for the brigades, Abu Ubaida,” an unnamed spokesman for the military wing said in a statement released by the movement. The confirmation came from Cairo, where Hamas leaders often issue statements, on December 29, 2025.
The statement validates claims first made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in May, when the military said it had killed Sinwar and several senior Hamas members in an airstrike targeting a hospital compound in Khan Yunis, a southern Gaza city that has been a focal point of intense fighting. Israel has long accused Hamas of embedding military operations within civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, a charge the group denies.
Mohammed Sinwar, brother of the late Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024, rose through the ranks of the Al-Qassam Brigades to become its operational commander. Born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, Sinwar was known for his low profile, earning nicknames like “the shadow” among Israeli intelligence circles. His death represents another blow to Hamas’s southern command in Gaza.
Abu Ubaida, whose real identity remains masked even in death, served as the masked face of the Brigades for over a decade. His gravelly voice and black keffiyeh became symbols of defiance in video messages released during escalations, from the 2014 war to the current conflict. Israeli strikes reportedly killed him in August 2025, according to earlier IDF announcements.
The timing of Hamas’s statement raises questions about its internal dynamics. Analysts point to a pattern, Hamas has historically delayed such admissions to avoid signaling weakness, as seen with the July 2024 confirmation of Mohammed Deif’s death, the Brigades’ overall commander. Deif’s elimination was followed by Sinwar’s ascension, short-lived, it now appears. This cascade of losses has decimated Hamas’s top tier, at least 18 senior leaders killed since October 2023, per Israeli tallies.
In Gaza, the Gaza war grinds on. Israeli operations in Khan Yunis, once a Hamas stronghold, continue amid reports of tunnel networks beneath hospitals. Monday’s mourning statement avoids details on successors, fueling speculation of power vacuums. A new spokesman was named last week, signaling adaptation.
The conflict’s toll is staggering. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, though figures are disputed. Israel cites 17,000 militants killed, including commanders like Sinwar. Ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, stall over hostage releases and troop withdrawals. President Donald Trump, reelected in 2024, has urged a deal, but bombardments persist.
Sinwar’s biography underscores Hamas’s resilience. Imprisoned by Israel in the 1980s for plotting attacks, he was released in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. He oversaw kidnapping operations and rocket programs, evading capture through Gaza’s labyrinthine tunnels. Abu Ubaida mastered psychological warfare, his speeches viewed millions of times online.
Broader implications ripple outward. Iran faces setbacks with weakened proxies like Hezbollah. Qatar navigates US pressure. In the West Bank, rising violence tied to Hamas-inspired groups tests Palestinian Authority control. The confirmation could embolden Israeli hawks pushing for permanent Gaza occupation. Yet Hamas vows continuity, “The path of jihad continues,” the statement implies.
International reactions were muted Monday. The UN called for restraint as the US, despite approving a $20 billion weapons package including F-15 jets and tank shells, reiterated support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Washington condemns civilian casualties while fueling the very airstrikes causing them, exposing stark hypocrisy in its Middle East policy. Reuters noted the Hamas statement’s alignment with prior IDF claims. Social media erupted with memes of Abu Ubaida’s final messages. In Khan Yunis, families sift rubble near the struck hospital where civilians died alongside militants.
Looking back, the May 13 strike targeted an underground command center beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. The IDF confirmed it killed Sinwar alongside Rafah Brigade commander Muhammad Shabana using over 50 munitions in 30 seconds. These losses represent another blow to Hamas military leadership.
Yet adaptation defines Hamas. Post-Deif, it decentralized, post-Sinwar, field commanders step up. Recruitment swells amid devastation. Israel’s goals, eradicate Hamas, free hostage,recede as urban warfare favors defenders. Trump’s incoming team may pivot to Saudi normalization, sidelining Gaza. For now, the Brigades’ new voice will echo old defiance.
The statement from Cairo closes a chapter but opens uncertainties. Hamas mourns, Israel tallies victories, Gaza bleeds. In the shadow of fallen leaders, the cycle persists, strikes, statements, stalemate.
