In Ramallah, West Bank, Hamas’ long-standing mysterious military leader Mohammed Deif, reportedly deceased after an Israeli airstrike last month. The Israeli military claimed to have killed Deif in a significant strike in southern Gaza on July 13, based on “an intelligence assessment.” Hamas officials have not immediately responded to Israel’s assertion. Deif, one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in the 1990s, had led the unit for years. He orchestrated numerous suicide bombings against Israelis and amassed a potent arsenal of rockets able to reach deep into Israel. Deif, who rarely appeared in public, evaded multiple Israeli assassination attempts and topped Israel’s most-wanted list for a long time.
Israel alleges that Deif and Hamas’ political leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, orchestrated the Oct. 7 attack that breached Israel’s border defenses, leading to an unprecedented attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians. The incident triggered the Israel-Hamas war, causing over 39,000 Palestinian casualties. Before the attack, Hamas released a rare recording of Deif announcing the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation, urging Palestinians to participate in resistance against Israeli actions.
Deif’s alleged death comes shortly after Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was purportedly killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran. These events could impact ceasefire negotiations and raise concerns about escalating regional tensions. Nevertheless, if Deif, a long-sought figure linked to a major attack in Israel’s history, is indeed deceased, it would represent a significant victory for Israel. His demise may offer Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a way to de-escalate the conflict, demonstrating a blow to Hamas’ military capabilities.
Killed at the age of 58 or 59, Deif, born Mohammed al-Masri, played a crucial role in Hamas’ armed resistance against Israel. Throughout his leadership, Hamas advanced its rocket program, kidnapped an Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit, into Gaza, and expanded underground tunnels. Deif’s fingerprints were evident in the Oct. 7 attack, illustrating his creativity and strategic prowess. Despite his alleged death, Hamas may continue its resistance efforts, as leaders are replaceable, according to experts in Palestinian affairs.
