Hamas has confirmed the death of military chief Mohammed Deif in an Israeli strike in July. Deif was believed to be one of the key architects of the October 7 attacks into southern Israel. The spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, Abu Obaida, described Deif as a “great martyr of the nation” in a statement on Thursday. Abu Obaida also confirmed the deaths of four other military leaders.
Last summer, the Israeli military stated that it killed Deif in a strike that hit an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Khan Younis on July 13. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Footage of the aftermath showed charred cars, thick layers of ash, and burned trees.
Deif, who served as Hamas’ military chief, was known as one of the key planners of the October 7 attacks. He led the Palestinian militant group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, for over two decades. His death marks one of the highest-ranking Hamas military officials to have been killed in Gaza during more than 15 months of fighting.
In May, the International Criminal Court announced that it was seeking arrest warrants for Deif and other senior Hamas figures, citing “reasonable grounds” to believe they bore responsibility for the October 7 attacks, which resulted in around 1,200 Israelis killed.
Israel’s military response in Gaza has led to the deaths of at least 47,460 Palestinians and injuries to another 111,580 people, according to the health ministry.
