Israel’s military has confirmed that Hamas’s military chief, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip last month. Deif was targeted in a strike on a compound in the Khan Younis area on July 13, although Hamas has yet to confirm his death.
Deif was reportedly one of the key figures behind the planning of the October 7 attacks in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
The Israeli military issued a statement confirming Deif’s death following an intelligence assessment. “Following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated” in the July 13 strike, the statement read.
At the time of the air strike, Gaza’s Hamas-run health authorities reported over 90 fatalities but denied that Deif was among the dead. Deif was considered the second-ranking Hamas official in Gaza, behind Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in the territory.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, hailed the death of Deif as “a significant milestone” in the efforts to dismantle Hamas. “This operation reflects the fact that Hamas is disintegrating, and that Hamas terrorists may either surrender or they will be eliminated,” Gallant stated.
In a related development, Hamas political leader Ismael Haniyeh was killed during a visit to Iran. While Israel has not commented directly on Haniyeh’s death, this event underscores the escalating tensions in the region.
