Hamas confirmed the death of its best military commander, Mohammed Deif, months after Israel said he killed him during an air strike. The announcement was made by Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Qassam brigades, the Hamas armed wing on Thursday.
DEIF, a key figure of Hamas for more than three decades, would have orchestrated several attacks against Israel and would have played a crucial role in the development of the group’s tunnel network and bombs manufacturing operations.
He has been running the Qassam brigades for over 20 years and was one of its original founders in the 1990s.
In July, the Israeli army said it had killed Deif in an air attack, but Hamas had not confirmed its death so far. Abu Obeida described his death as “adapted”, saying: “How, by God, Mohammed Deif could be mentioned in history without the title” martyr “and without the martyrdom medal?”
On October 7, 2023, DEIF published a rare vocal recording announcing the “Al-Aqsa” operation, connecting the attacks led by Hamas against southern Israel to the Israeli raids of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Deif for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC has also issued mandates for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant about Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Hamas also confirmed the death of deputy military commander Marwan Issa, as well as several other higher personalities, including Ghazi Abu Tamaa, commander of arms and combat services; Raed Thabet, manpower of the workforce and head of the supplies unit; And Rafei Salama, commander of the Khan Younis brigade.
Israel said he killed Issa in March, although Hamas has already denied having confirmed his death.
