The Israeli military on Sunday said it had located the remains of Hamas military leader Mohammed al-Sinwar in an underground tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Sinwar, the brother of former Hamas leader Yehya al-Sinwar who was also killed by Israel, was killed along with the commander of the Rafah Brigade, Mohammed Sabaneh, in an attack on May 13, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on its Telegram channel.

The two had been hiding in an underground command and control centre belonging to the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group, it said. The Islamist group has not confirmed Mohammed al-Sinwar’s death.

The Israeli military said their remains, along with various personal items, were found beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis. Israel has repeatedly said that Hamas uses civilian facilities like hospitals and schools, as cover for its operations – which Hamas denies.

“Additional bodies of terrorists were located during the operation, their identities are currently under examination,” the statement added.

The IDF showed the tunnel to several journalists on Sunday, including a dpa photojournalist and also posted a video of soldiers dragging a corpse wrapped in white out of the tunnel on its Telegram channel. The military said it was very far underground, in the immediate vicinity of the clinic.

The dpa photographer described a strong smell of decay in the air, and said the floor was covered in worms. In one room, which had apparently been used as a dormitory, there were many blankets on the floor. He said no technical equipment or similar items were visible.