The Israeli army mentioned that Mohammed Deif, the elusive chief of Hamas’ army wing within the Gaza Strip and an accused mastermind of the October 7 assault, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis on July 13.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, in a social media put up, referred to as Deif the “Osama Bin Laden of Gaza.”
“It is a important milestone within the strategy of dismantling Hamas as a army and governing authority in Gaza, and within the achievement of the objectives of this conflict,” he wrote on Thursday.
Certainly one of Israel’s central goals within the practically 10-month-old conflict has been to seize or kill Deif and the Hamas chief within the Gaza Strip, Yehya al-Sinwar. Al-Sinwar is believed to be nonetheless at giant.
The third most senior Hamas chief in Gaza, Marwan Issa, was killed in March.
Deif’s destiny has been a matter of hypothesis for weeks, but it surely was solely on Thursday that the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) confirmed he was killed within the aerial assault on the outskirts of the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis.
The strike that took out Deif additionally killed some 90 Palestinians, well being authorities in Gaza have mentioned.
Gallant mentioned the operation was “carried out exactly and professionally.”
“The IDF pronounces that on July 13, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck within the space of Khan Younis, and following an intelligence evaluation, it may be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eradicated within the strike,” the IDF mentioned in a press release.
“Deif initiated, deliberate, and executed the October 7 bloodbath, through which 1,200 folks have been killed in southern Israel and 251 hostages kidnapped into the Gaza Strip,” the IDF mentioned.
“Over time, Deif directed, deliberate, and carried out quite a few terrorist assaults in opposition to the state of Israel,” the IDF added.
The affirmation of Deif’s dying comes shortly after a strike in Tehran killed prime Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, and the dying of Hezbollah army commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli assault in a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Israel has not but claimed duty for Haniyeh’s dying.
The Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon has deep ties with Hamas, and each are backed by Iran.
Israel’s foes have expressed outrage at Haniyeh’s killing and demanded retribution. The al-Qassam Brigades, which Deif had led earlier than his dying, mentioned Israel “pays the worth for its aggression.”
1000’s of individuals took half in a state-organized mourning ceremony for Haniyeh within the Iranian capital on Thursday. Iran’s whole political elite was additionally current, together with the Supreme Chief Ayatollah Khamenei and the brand new President Massud Peseshkian
The Israeli military has been placed on excessive alert in anticipation of attainable retaliatory strikes by Iran and its allies. Israeli radio reported that the nation’s air defence was additionally on the utmost degree of readiness.
Israeli fighter jets patrolled the nation’s airspace and floor troops on the borders elevated their operational readiness, Israeli radio reported on Thursday.
