The Israeli military has confirmed the killing of Hamas’ Gaza-based military chief Mohammed Deif in last month’s airstrike.
After nearly 2 weeks of investigation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday issued a statement saying that “Mohammed Deif was eliminated” in the July 13 strike in southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis.
The Israeli announcement rebutts Hamas claims that their top terror commander had survived the airstrike.
Rafa’a Salameh, commander of Hamas’ Khan Yunis Brigade terrorist fighting force, along with other terrorists were also killed in the strike. “Additional terrorist operatives were also eliminated during the strike,” the IDF statement said.
Detailing Deif’s involvement in Palestinian terrorism for nearly four decades, the IDF noted:
Mohammed Deif was the Commander of Hamas’ Military Wing, and second in command of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. Deif initiated, planned, and executed the October 7th Massacre, in which 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel and 251 hostages abducted into the Gaza Strip. (…)Over the years, Deif directed, planned, and carried out numerous terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Deif operated side-by-side with Yahya Sinwar, and during the war, he commanded Hamas’ terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip by issuing commands and instructions to senior members of Hamas’ Military Wing.Deif joined the Hamas terrorist organization during the First Intifada. He planned and directed numerous terror attacks and Hamas’ force build-up in Judea and Samaria, and was responsible for suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilians.
The news comes as Palestinians mark a ‘day of mourning’ over the death of Hamas’s top leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a strike on Tuesday night while on a visit to Iran.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant welcomed the news and vowed to pursue all terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre. “The defense establishment will pursue Hamas terrorists—from the planners of the massacre to its executors, he said Tuesday.
The Israeli news website YNET reported defense minister’s remarks.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hailed the successful operation. “The elimination of the arch-terrorist Mohammed Deif, the ‘Bin Laden of Gaza,’ on July 13, 2024, is a significant step toward dismantling Hamas as a military and governing organization and achieving our war objectives,” he said in a statement.”The precise and high-quality operation that led to his elimination was made possible by optimal cooperation between the IDF, the Shin Bet, and their leaders. The results of the operation make it clear that Hamas is an organization in disarray, and that the terrorists must choose between surrender and death.”The defense establishment will pursue Hamas terrorists—from the planners of the massacre to its executors—and will not rest until the mission is completed.”
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