The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday that an airstrike in July killed Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, along with his deputy, Rafa Salameh.
Deif had survived seven previous assassination attempts and Hamas did not immediately acknowledge his death, but there had been growing indications in recent weeks that he had indeed been killed.
The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday released previously unseen footage of the airstrike.
2024 2024 יוסי קרב תקפו במרחב ח’אן יונס וכע כי בתקיפה חוסל מחמד דף, מפקד הזרוע הצבאית ומספר שתיים בארגון טרור חמ >> pic.twitter.com/3Zd1gasBWm
— More August 1, 2024
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet and Shabak) Said:
The Israel Defense Forces announced that IDF warplanes attacked the Khan Yunis area on July 13, 2024, and that intelligence confirmed that Mohammed Deif was killed in the attack. Mohammed Deif was the commander of Hamas’ military wing and deputy commander of Hamas’ terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. Deif initiated, planned, and carried out the October 7 massacre, which killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Based on accurate intelligence from the IDF and the Israeli army, Israeli Air Force warplanes carried out precision strikes on the compound where Mohammed Deif and Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigades commander, Rafa’a Salameh, whose elimination was confirmed a few weeks ago, were located. Other terrorist operatives were also eliminated during the strikes.
Deif directed, planned and carried out numerous terrorist attacks against the State of Israel over the years. Deif operated alongside Yahya Sinwar, issuing orders and instructions to Hamas’ senior military officials during the war and directing Hamas’ terrorist operations in the Gaza Strip.
Deif joined the Hamas terrorist organization during the First Intifada, planned and directed numerous terrorist attacks and Hamas’ military buildup in Judea and Samaria, and was responsible for suicide attacks against Israeli civilians.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted a photo of himself removing Deif from a hit list.
Mohammed Deif, known as “Gaza’s Osama bin Laden,” was killed on July 24, 2013. This marked a significant milestone in the process of dismantling Hamas as the military and governing power in Gaza and in achieving the objectives of the war.
The surgery was performed precisely… pic.twitter.com/WCgL5fBkEC
— Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) August 1, 2024
Deif joins a growing list of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders killed in recent days as Israel ramps up pressure on Iran’s local terror group and moves towards victory in Gaza.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
