Israel’s military has said that one of the reported masterminds of the October 7 attacks, Hamas’ military chief Mohammed Deif, was killed in a strike it carried out in southern Gaza last month.
The claim of Deif’s death comes a day after Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran.
An Israeli military official said they received new intelligence in recent hours that gave them the confidence to confirm Deif was killed, nearly three weeks after it carried out the strike in Khan Younis. The official declined to specify the nature of that intelligence.
There was no immediate statement from Hamas.
A Hamas official wrote on Telegram that only the group’s military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, can confirm or deny Deif’s death. Izzat Al Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said that unless the Al Qassam leadership announces it, “no news published in the media or by any other parties can be confirmed.”
A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had conducted a “precise, targeted strike” on a compound where Deif and another commander Rafe Salama were staying. The IDF announced Salama’s death last month.
In recent weeks Israeli officials said they had indications their strike was successful but were not able to confirm that he was killed until now.
The strike targeting Deif in Khan Younis on July 13 hit a designated humanitarian zone, killing at least 90 Palestinians. Footage from the Al-Mawasi displacement camp showed bodies in the street and destroyed tents.
