Hamas Leaders Killed in Successive Israeli Attacks

Protesters, predominantly Houthi supporters, hold images of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during a demonstration. File Photo: Reuters

One after another, Hamas leaders have fallen victim to Israeli attacks. On Tuesday, Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha. According to Israeli officials, the strike aimed to eliminate Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader living in exile in Qatar. However, Hamas stated that none of its leaders were harmed in the attack.

Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on October 7, 2023, several prominent Hamas leaders have been killed over the past 23 months. Here is a brief overview of their identities:

**Mohammad Sinwar**: A veteran Hamas commander, Mohammad Sinwar was the head of the group’s military wing. He was killed by Israel in May. Considered a key planner of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar. He rose to leadership in Hamas after Yahya’s death.

**Yahya Sinwar**: In October 2024, Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. At the time, he was Israel’s most wanted target and was believed to be orchestrating the war in Gaza. Sinwar assumed leadership of Hamas in July 2024, following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

**Ismail Haniyeh**: In July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran during a visit. He had been Hamas’s leader since 2017. According to *The New York Times*, Israeli intelligence operatives planted a bomb in the guesthouse where he was staying.

**Mohammed Deif**: Mohammed Deif, commander of Hamas’s military wing, was considered a mastermind of the October 7 attack. Israel made seven attempts to kill him. In March 2024, he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza.

**Marwan Issa**: In March 2024, Marwan Issa, deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, was killed in an Israeli attack. He was a major target alongside Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar

**Those Still Alive**: Izz al-Din al-Haddad is currently Hamas’s most senior leader following Mohammad Sinwar’s death. Khalil al-Hayya is considered the group’s most influential figure. Other surviving leaders include Khaled Mashaal, Mohammad Darwish, Nizar Awadallah, and Zaher Jabarin. Khaled Mashaal led Hamas from 2004 to 2017.