Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza on July 13, the Israeli military announced today. This follows the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran the previous day.
“The IDF confirms that on July 13, 2024, its fighter jets targeted the Khan Younis area. Based on an intelligence assessment, it has been confirmed that Mohammed Deif was neutralized in the strike,” the military statement read.
Hamas has not yet responded to requests for comment on the announcement, while Haniyeh’s funeral is currently being held in Tehran.
The assassinations are likely to derail ceasefire negotiations, and Iran has vowed retaliation for the attack on its soil.
Israel believes that Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s military wing, and Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s top leader in Gaza, were the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. Sinwar is thought to be hiding in Gaza.
Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the Tuesday attack in Tehran, which resulted in the death of Ismail Haniyeh.
The killing of these high-ranking Hamas officials represents a significant victory for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has vowed not to end the Gaza war until Hamas is fully dismantled.
These assassinations are likely to jeopardize ongoing ceasefire negotiations, and Iran has promised retaliation for the attack on its soil, raising concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict.
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