The IDF on Tuesday attempted to assassinate Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in a strike on the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in Gaza, sources told The Jerusalem Post.
The military may have used a bunker buster bomb in their attempted attack against Sinwar, defense sources told the Post.
Following the initial attack, the IDF reportedly struck the area where Sinwar was allegedly located a second time, with the objective of preventing the evacuation of casualties, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.
Israel reportedly did not update the US prior to the assassination attempt, a source familiar with the details told Ynet. According to the report, the strike was a result of a "sudden opportunity," leading to no time to inform the Americans or consider the timing of US President Donald Trump's speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Security officials have long believed that Mohammed Sinwar replaced his brother, Yahya Sinwar, as the new Hamas leader after his assassination in October. Khalil al-Hayya, Yahya Sinwar's deputy, was believed to have taken on political responsibilities.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF confirmed that they had struck two hospitals from which Hamas terrorists were operating from within a command and control center located in the Nasser Hospital and the European Hospital, both in Khan Yunis.
According to the military, the compound was used by the terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.
Senior Hamas officials continue to use the hospital for terrorist activity through cynical and brutal use of the civilian population in the hospital and its surroundings, the military added.
Prior to the strike, multiple steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence, the military asserted.
Key Hamas terrorist killed in March
In late March, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) struck a key Hamas terrorist who was operating within the Nasser Hospital, The Jerusalem Post previously reported.
Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza and head of the organization's finances, was targeted and killed in the operation.
According to a joint statement from the IDF and Shin Bet, the strike was conducted following an intelligence-gathering process and with precise munitions.
Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.