GAZA: Hamas confirmed the death of its military commander, Mohammad Deif, six months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Deif was targeted by Israeli forces on July 13, 2024 in al-Mawasi, Rafah, Gaza Strip. He was the head of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Hamas commander was born in 1965 in the Khan Younis refugee camp, later joining Hamas shortly after its establishment in 1987 after the First Intifada against Israeli occupation.
He quickly rose through the Hamas ranks, known for his strategic military planning. Deif was instrumental in transforming the al-Qassam Brigades from a loose faction into a more organised military force.
The commander built a reputation for his involvement in several high-profile attacks against Israel, including the 1996 Jaffa Road bus bombings.
His leadership was instrumental in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked off the latest Israel siege of Gaza for 15 months before a fragile ceasefire was finally agreed on this month,
The Israeli military had placed Deif on its most wanted list since 1995 for his role in orchestrating attacks on the occupiers that resulted in the deaths of several Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The Hamas fighter was detained by the Palestinian Authority in 2000 at Israel’s request but escaped later. Over the years, he had survived at least seven assassination attempts.
Mohammad Deif suffered personal tragedies at hands of Israel. In 2014, his wife and young children, including an infant son, were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Despite or in part bolstered by such personal tragedies, Deif continued to lead the al-Qassam Brigades and remained a key figure in Palestinian struggle for independence.
In August 2024, there were reports of the Hamas commander’s death by several sources. However, Hamas denied reports of his death until recently.
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Mohammad Deif’s death is seen as a huge blow to Hamas, as he was regarded as one of the most influential and capable military commanders in the group.