Israel confirmed on Thursday that it has killed Mohammed Deif, the top Hamas military commander, in airstrikes on July 13 in southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces announced Deif’s death on X, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.
“We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated,” the Israel Defense Forces posted on X.
We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 1, 2024
The strikes also resulted in at least 90 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and targeted an area Israel had previously designated as a humanitarian zone for displaced families.
Deif, a key figure behind the October 7 attacks on southern Israel that resulted in around 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, had survived numerous previous assassination attempts. His death follows the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr outside Beirut. The recent events have heightened fears of further regional conflict and could impact ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
The Israeli military and Shin Bet also reported that Deif was targeted alongside Rafa Salameh, a prominent Hamas leader in Khan Younis, who was instrumental in the planning of the October attacks.
