Israel has officially confirmed the death of Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, following an air strike in the southern Gaza Strip last month. This announcement came a day after Hamas and Iran reported the death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, although Israel has not commented on that report.
Significant Milestone in Dismantling Hamas
On Thursday, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced, “Mohammed Deif, the Osama bin Laden of Gaza, was eliminated on July 13.” He described this as a “significant milestone in the process of dismantling Hamas” in Gaza. The Israeli army stated that fighter jets struck Khan Yunis on July 13, and intelligence assessments confirmed Deif’s death in the attack, along with one of his top commanders, Rafa Salama.
Death Toll and Denials
Health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza reported over 90 deaths from the strike, but Hamas denied that Deif was among the casualties. “Deif initiated, planned, and executed the October 7th massacre,” the military stated. This attack by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in 1,197 deaths, according to official Israeli figures.
Profile of Mohammed Deif
Mohammed Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab al-Masri, became head of Hamas’s armed wing, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, in 2002. He had been one of Israel’s most wanted men for nearly three decades and was listed as an “international terrorist” by the US since 2015. Born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in 1965, Deif was known for his elusive nature, earning the nickname “cat with nine lives” due to multiple close calls with death.
Deif’s Involvement with Hamas
Deif joined Hamas in the 1980s while studying at Gaza Islamic University and played a key role in constructing the extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza. He was detained by Israel in the 1980s and spent about two years in a Palestinian Authority prison before being released or escaping. Deif announced the start of the Hamas attack, operation “Al-Aqsa Flood,” in an audio message on October 7.
International Criminal Court Warrants
In May, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Deif and Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas in Gaza, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, killed in Tehran, was also on this list. The prosecutor has sought warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant as well.
Ongoing Conflict and Casualties
During the October 7 attack, Hamas operatives seized 251 people, with 111 still captive in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead. Israel’s military campaign since then has resulted in 39,480 deaths in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.
This confirmation of Deif’s death marks a critical point in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with significant implications for both sides.
