The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was killed in an airstrike last month in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. The announcement comes just a day after the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strike took place on July 13, 2024, and was the result of precise intelligence. “We confirm that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike,” the IDF said.
Deif, a key figure in Hamas, is believed to have played a major role in planning the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which ignited the ongoing Gaza war. The IDF described him as the mastermind behind the attack, referring to it as a “massacre.”
The news of Deif’s death was announced as crowds in Tehran gathered for Haniyeh’s funeral.
Deif, who led Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, had been one of Israel’s most wanted individuals for nearly 30 years. He was known for his role in expanding Hamas’ tunnel network and enhancing its bomb-making capabilities. Deif was placed on a U.S. list of “international terrorists” in 2015 and was responsible for numerous attacks against Israel.
The bomb used in the Khan Yunis strike, reportedly weighing around 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms), created a massive crater at the site where Deif was hiding with a deputy, according to AFP.
Deif’s death is seen as a significant blow to Hamas, which has been engaged in intense conflict with Israel. Since the October attack, the violence has resulted in the deaths of 39,480 people, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry, though the breakdown between civilians and militants is not specified.
