Israel claimed Thursday that it had killed Hamas’ top military commander, Mohammed Deif, in an attack earlier in July.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they launched an attack on July 13 targeting two top Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. Deif, the alleged mastermind of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, was among the targets, according to the IDF.
“Hamas’s top military commander, Mohammed Deif, was the target of an Israeli military attack today in Al-Mawasi,” two Israeli intelligence sources told Fox News Digital after the attack.
Deif’s death was not confirmed until Thursday.
Israel confirms attack on Gaza civilian site targeting October 7th mastermind
An undated photo of Hamas suicide bomb mastermind Mohammed Deif. Little is known about the Palestinian who has stayed one step ahead of his Israeli pursuers over the past few years. (Reuters)
“Muhammad Deif, ‘Gaza’s Osama bin Laden,’ was eliminated on July 24, 2013,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement. “This marks a significant milestone in the process of dismantling Hamas as the military and governing power in Gaza and in achieving the objectives of this war.”
According to the Israel Defense Forces, Deif initiated, planned and carried out the October 7 terror attacks that left 1,200 people dead in southern Israel and 251 hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“Deif directed, planned and carried out numerous terrorist attacks against Israel over the years,” the IDF said. “Operating alongside Yahya Sinwar, Deif issued orders and instructions to senior Hamas military officials during the war and directed Hamas’ terrorist operations in the Gaza Strip.”
Israel announced on Tuesday that it had killed Lebanon’s top Hezbollah commander, Fouad Shukr, and on Wednesday it was reported that Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh had been assassinated while in Tehran, Iran.
This is a developing story.
