Israeli Military Claims Elimination of Hamas Leader Muhammad Deif
On Thursday, the Israeli military announced that it had successfully killed Muhammad Deif, the enigmatic leader of Hamas’s military wing. Deif has remained one of Israel’s most sought-after militants and was widely believed to be a key architect behind the devastating attack on Israel that occurred on October 7.
This announcement follows weeks of uncertainty regarding Deif’s status after an airstrike on July 13 targeted the secretive Hamas commander in southern Gaza. At that time, the Israeli military refrained from definitively confirming whether Deif had been killed, and Hamas has yet to explicitly confirm or deny the reports surrounding his death.
The military’s assertion is based on an intelligence assessment, though they have not provided specific evidence to substantiate their claim. In a statement released by the military, they said, “Following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Muhammad Deif was eliminated in the strike.”
It is important to note that the airstrike on July 13 resulted in the deaths of at least 90 individuals in the vicinity, according to the Gazan health ministry. However, this figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Mr. Deif, who has survived multiple assassination attempts by Israel in the past, has served as the No. 2 leader of Hamas in Gaza. His death marks a significant milestone, as he is the highest-ranking commander within the armed group that Israel claims to have killed since initiating its military campaign following the October 7 attack.
The Israeli government has openly stated that eliminating the leadership of Hamas is a primary objective of the ongoing war. Should the claims regarding Deif’s death be confirmed, it would be considered a considerable victory in that endeavor. However, the long-term impact on Hamas’s operational capabilities remains uncertain; Israel has previously targeted and eliminated several senior commanders, only to witness the group rapidly replace them with new leaders.
