Israel Defence Forces on Thursday announced the killing of Muhammad Deif, Hamas' top military commander, in an airstrike in southern Gaza on July 13.
This marks the second elimination after Ismail Haniyeh's killing in Tehran.
Although the Palestinian group has not yet confirmed his death. The attack marks a significant moment in Israel's ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas's leadership.
“We can now confirm that Muhammad Deif was eliminated,” the Israeli military stated on Thursday.
Muhammad Deif, code-named The Guest, was born in 1965 in the Khan Younis refugee camp.
He was a prominent figure in Hamas, the Palestinian militant organisation.
Deif was a founding member of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, established in the 1990s. He led the Qassam Brigades for over two decades, becoming a key architect of its strategies and operations.
During the first Intifada, which began in 1987, Deif joined Hamas and adopted his nom de guerre. He quickly ascended the ranks, significantly contributing
to Hamas's military capabilities, including the development of an extensive tunnel network and expertise in bomb-making.
Due to his strategic prowess, he remained at the top of Israel's most-wanted list for many years. In 2014, Deif's wife, seven-month-old son, and three-year-old daughter were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Despite surviving multiple assassination attempts — seven in total, with the most recent in 2021—Deif's resilience bolstered his standing among Palestinians.
On October 7, 2023, Deif was implicated in the planning of a significant attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,139 people and the capture of over 200 individuals.
In an audio message broadcast that day, Deif named the assault "Al-Aqsa Flood," indicating it was a retaliatory measure for Israeli actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
In response to the October 7 attack, the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to eliminate the top Hamas leaders, including Deif, Yahya Sinwar (Hamas' leader in Gaza), and Marwan Issa (Deif's deputy, reportedly killed by Israel in March 2024).
Deif is believed to have directed military operations from Gaza's tunnels and backstreets alongside senior Hamas officials.
In May 2024, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Deif, Sinwar, and another Hamas figure over the October 7 attack, as well as for Netanyahu and Gallant over Israel’s response.
As of the latest reports, the conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 39,480 people and injuries to 91,128, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health.
Regarding Deif's potential future within Hamas, it is plausible he could have been considered as a candidate for the leadership role after Ismail Haniyeh.
His longstanding influence, military expertise, and symbolic stature within the organisation would have positioned him as a strong contender for the top leadership position.
However, the volatile nature of the conflict and the internal dynamics of Hamas make such predictions uncertain.
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