Israel confirms Hamas military leader Deif’s death in airstrike, day after Haniyeh's assassination

The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday (Aug 1) thatMohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza last month. The confirmation comes a day after the terror organisation's political leader, Ismail Haniyehwas assassinated in Tehran.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) neutralised Deif in its attack on the city of Khan Yunis on July 13. Hamas at the time denied that Deif was dead and claimed that 100 other people had died in the attack.

"The IDF announces that on July 13th, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike," the military said.

We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated. — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 1, 2024

Deif is believed to be the mastermind of the gory October 7 terror attack on Israeli soil last year. Deif was Israel's most wanted man who gave the operation the name "Al Aqsa Flood" under which innocent civilians were killed and kidnapped.

Apart from Deif, it wasYehya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza whoplanned the attack on Israel whose foundations were set in place after IDF carried out a raid on Al Aqsa mosque in May 2021.

Up until his death on July 13, Deif had survived close to seven Israeli assassination attempts with the most recent taking place in 2021.Deif rose through Hamas'ranks over 30 years, developing its network of tunnels and its bomb-making expertise.

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Ismail Haniyeh's assassination

The timing of confirmation of Deif's death is curious as it comes a day after Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. Hamas claimed that its leader was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran".

"Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president," added the group.

Israel, however, neither acknowledged nor rejectedIran or Hamas' claims about the assassination. Details on how Haniyeh was killed remain a mystery butIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that one of his bodyguards was also neutralised in the attack.

Haniyeh was appointed to the Hamas top job in 2017. He moved between Turkey and Qatar's capital Doha, escaping the travel curbs of the blockaded Gaza Strip.

(With inputs from agencies)