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The Hamas Movement, the de-facto ruler of the Gaza Strip, confirmed on January 30 that the commander of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, had been killed.
Deif was targeted, according to the Israeli military, in a strike at a compound belonging to Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of the al-Qassam Brigades’ Khan Younis Brigade, in the Khan Younis area, on July 13.
The strikes hit the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis, which the Israeli military has designated as a humanitarian zone. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 90 civilians were killed and more than 300 others were wounded by the strike.
Just a day later, Salameh’s death was confirmed by the Israeli government, but the military said it did not have final information regarding Deif. On August 1, the military confirmed the death of Deif.
Mohammed Deif
The spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said his death was “befitting”.
“This is befitting of our leader Mohammed Deif, who exhausted the enemy for more than 30 years,” Abu Obeida said.
“How, by God, could Mohammed Deif be mentioned in history without the title ‘martyr’ and without the medal of martyrdom?” Abu Obeida asked.
In its statement, Abu Obeida also announced the death of deputy military commander Marwan Issa. The United States announced Issa’s death in March.
Deif is said to be the mastermind behind the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel, which claimed lives of over 1,200 Israelis and saw the capture of more than 200 others. The Israeli military responded with a military operation that has so far claimed the lives of more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas announcement came amid a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal with Israel that was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. On January 30, three Israelis and five Thai nationals were freed from Gaza under the deal in exchange for the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
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