IDF Confirms Killing of Hamas de facto PM, Sinwar’s Right-Hand Man, in Strike 3 Months Ago

The IDF and Shin Bet have confirmed that Rawhi Mushtaha, Hamas’s de facto prime minister in Gaza and a close associate of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli airstrike three months ago. Mushtaha was one of the key architects of Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis.

The strike, which also targeted Hamas officials Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Odeh, was carried out based on precise intelligence while the men were hiding in a fortified tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip. The tunnel served as a Hamas command and control center, enabling senior operatives to continue directing operations from underground.

Mushtaha, considered Sinwar’s right-hand man, played a dual role within Hamas, overseeing both political and military decisions. He was a central figure in maintaining Hamas’s civil governance in Gaza while coordinating terror operations against Israel. The IDF described him as a key decision-maker regarding Hamas’s military force deployment and a senior operative involved in all aspects of the terror group’s activities.

Both Mushtaha and Sinwar shared a long history, having been cellmates in Israeli prison before being released in the 2011 Shalit deal. Together, they established Hamas’s general security mechanism, further solidifying their positions within the organization.

Hamas has yet to confirm Mushtaha’s death, with the IDF suggesting that the terror group is concealing its losses to prevent a collapse in morale. Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas has resulted in the deaths of several top leaders, including Deif’s deputy Marwan Issa and Khan Younis Brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh. Speculation also surrounds Sinwar’s current status, though there is no confirmed evidence of his death.

The fighting has taken a heavy toll on both sides, with Israel stating that it has killed over 17,000 Hamas combatants in Gaza so far. The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 40,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead, though these figures cannot be independently verified and do not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Israel maintains that it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

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