50 Bombs in 30 Seconds: Israel Claims Killing Top Hamas Commander Sinwar in Gaza Hospital Tunnel

In one of the most intense and controversial strikes of the Gaza conflict, Israel announced that it had eliminated senior Hamas military commander Muhammad Sinwar during a powerful airstrike targeting a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis on May 13. The strike, carried out in just 30 seconds with over 50 precision-guided bombs, was described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a carefully planned operation based on concrete intelligence.

According to Israeli officials, the strike did not target the hospital directly but focused on a hidden underground Hamas command center beneath the facility. Israeli intelligence indicated that high-ranking Hamas commanders were meeting in that tunnel to discuss ceasefire terms and ongoing hostage negotiations. Fearing that hostages could be present, the IDF initially delayed the operation. But once intelligence confirmed there were no captives inside, the green light was given.

The tunnel strike reportedly killed not only Muhammad Sinwar, but also two other top Hamas operatives — Muhammad Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion. Israel says all three men were involved in planning and executing the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, an event that triggered a full-scale war between Israel and Hamas.

Muhammad Sinwar, the younger brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, had been a prime target for months. After the deaths of senior Hamas figures like military chief Muhammad Deif and Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad stepped into a leading role in directing Hamas’s military activities in Gaza. He was labeled a key mastermind of the October 7 assault and was said to be obstructing peace and hostage release efforts.

The IDF emphasized that although the strike occurred near a hospital, they used “extensive intelligence and precision tactics” to avoid damaging the hospital building itself. However, the aftermath tells a more complicated story. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that 16 people were killed and more than 70 others were injured. Following the first wave of bombs, additional strikes were launched to prevent any attempted rescue or escape by Hamas operatives trapped in the tunnel.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed Sinwar’s death and issued a sharp warning to the remaining Hamas leadership. “Now it is official: The murderer Muhammad Sinwar has been eliminated… he was sent to meet his brother at the gates of hell,” Katz declared. He also directly threatened Izz al-Din Haddad, who has reportedly taken over Hamas command in Gaza, and Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader abroad.

Israeli officials hailed the operation as a major blow to Hamas’s leadership structure. Yet, it has also stirred international attention because of its location — under a functioning hospital — and the civilian casualties it caused. Critics argue that targeting militants near sensitive civilian sites like hospitals risks escalating humanitarian concerns and international condemnation.

As the war continues, this strike marks another chapter in Israel’s strategy of decapitating Hamas’s leadership. Whether this will speed up ceasefire talks or provoke further retaliation remains to be seen. The elimination of a top commander like Sinwar may bring tactical success for Israel, but the path to lasting peace in the region is still uncertain.