Israeli officials: Conducted air strikes in Khan Younis to kill Yahya Sinwar's brother

Israeli fighter jets bombarded the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis Tuesday in an attempt to kill Mohammad Sinwar, one of Hamas' remaining top members in the enclave, according to two Israeli military officials.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Around the same time, Israeli military said its forces had struck a Hamas command centre underneath European Hospital, near Khan Younis. An Israeli military spokesperson declined to say whether Sinwar was targeted in that strike. Billowing pillars of smoke towered around the hospital following the bombardment, according to videos from the scene verified by NYT.

Gaza's civil defence agency said the Israeli strikes killed at least 28 people in the areais.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that "according to our crews on the ground, 28 martyrs have been recovered from the area".

Israel has threatened another major military offensive in the enclave unless Hamas lays down weapons and turns over the 20 living hostages it still holds, along with the remains of about 40 others. Hamas has refused to disarm, adding that they will not release the captives unless Israel ends the war. Sinwar is believed to be one of the most senior Hamas commanders left in the enclave after over a year and a half of devastating war with Israel. He is the brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, killed by Israel last year, who masterminded the Oct 7, 2023, attacks that set off the war.

(Inputs from NYT & AFP)