Image Credits : Asharq Al-Awsat
The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it had “confirmed” the death of Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s military wing, in a July airstrike on Gaza. However, Hamas disputes this claim, asserting that Deif survived the attack. The announcement follows a deadly Israeli strike in Tehran that killed Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader.
Israel has implicated Deif and Yahya Sinwar, the chief Hamas leader in Gaza, as key figures behind the October 7 attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in southern Israel and triggered ongoing hostilities. Sinwar is thought to remain in concealment somewhere in Gaza.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant termed the operation that allegedly killed Deif as a “significant milestone,” suggesting it indicates Hamas’s weakening status. Despite this, the continued targeted strikes and high casualties could lead Hamas to adopt a more rigid stance in cease-fire negotiations or even abandon talks.
Iran has pledged retaliation for the strike on its soil, intensifying concerns about a broader regional conflict. The strike on Deif, which occurred on July 13, targeted a compound in Khan Younis, killing Deif and other Hamas members, including Rafa Salama, as well as over 90 civilians, according to Gaza health officials.
The Israeli military confirmed Deif’s death based on intelligence assessments. However, Hamas’s resistance and ongoing conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 39,500 Palestinians and injuries to more than 91,100 others, underscore the dire situation in Gaza. With over 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents displaced, the humanitarian crisis deepens as many are forced into overcrowded tent camps with limited resources.
Deif, a founding member of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades, had long remained an elusive figure, surviving multiple Israeli assassination attempts while leading the group’s military operations from the shadows.