Israel Officially Announces the Killing of al-Qassam Leader, Hamas Denies
Israel chose to announce Mohammed Deif's death at this specific time to deliver a psychological blow to Hamas and its allies after the assassination of Haniyeh and to assert the Netanyahu government's ability to fulfill its promise to kill the leaders of the Palestinian movement.
The Israeli army confirmed on Thursday the elimination of Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas‘ military wing, in a raid conducted on July 13 in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza Strip, while a senior Hamas official denied these reports, stating that Deif is well and is following the Israeli claims.
This confirmation by Israel comes after the killing of Hamas‘ political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran a day earlier, although Hamas denied the Israeli announcement.
The timing of this announcement aims to deliver a psychological blow to Hamas and its allies, while demonstrating the Netanyahu government’s ability to fulfill its promise to kill the leaders of the Palestinian movement.
The Israeli army said in a statement in Arabic posted on the platform X that “after intelligence verification: the IDF and the General Security Service eliminated Mohammed Deif,” confirming that “the warplanes accurately targeted the compound where he was.”
The army added that Deif was “the number two in Hamas and one of the initiators and planners of the bloody massacre on October 7.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on the platform X that “the elimination of Mohammed Deif is a significant step towards eradicating Hamas as a military and governmental organization,” stating that the results of the military operation show that “Hamas is an organization in a state of disintegration, and that terrorists must choose between surrendering and dying.”
In response to this claim, Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official, stated on Thursday that the leader of the movement’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, is well and is following the Israeli claims about his assassination.
That day, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing 1195 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel responded by vowing to “destroy” Hamas, carrying out a devastating bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip and ground attacks that have killed at least 39,480 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-controlled territory.
The Israeli army bombed a fenced site in the humanitarian area between Khan Younis and Mawasi, claiming it was used as a base by Hamas militants, killing several militants and civilians.
Israel stated at the time that it had captured the Khan Younis Brigade commander, Rafiq Salama, during the attack without specifying Deif’s fate. Gallant’s office said it was conducting an “operational status assessment” with security leaders following the attack, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed holding security discussions following the operation described as special and based on precise intelligence.
In contrast, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, denied Deif’s death, saying, “We say to Netanyahu that Mohammed Deif hears you now and mocks your false statements.”
Israeli media, citing semi-official sources, say Deif has survived seven assassination attempts over the years and was injured in four of them, with severe injuries in some cases, from which he recovered.
Mohammed Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri “Abu Khaled,” was born in 1965 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the Islamic University of Gaza, obtained in 1988.
Deif is a man of few words and rare appearances; it is said he earned the nickname “Deif” (guest) because he never stays in one place for more than a day due to being hunted by Israel, often being a “guest” with Palestinians.
-
New York Times reveals secrets of new Hamas cells in the West Bank
-
Hamas has lost half of its fighters in the Gaza war
He was arrested in 1989 and spent 16 months in prison, and has been Israel’s most wanted man for decades. Israel killed his wife and infant son, as well as his three-year-old daughter, in a failed assassination attempt he survived in 2014.
