Hamas Confirms Death of Military Chief Mohammed Deif

The longtime leader of Hamas's armed wing, accused by Israel of masterminding the October 7 attacks, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike last year.

Hamas officially confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, its military chief, after months of silence following Israel's claim of killing him in a July 2024 airstrike in Gaza.
Deif, one of the founders of Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades, was a key figure in the group's operations for over 20 years and was accused of planning the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel.
The International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for Deif in May 2024, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Hamas also confirmed the deaths of other senior leaders, including deputy military chief Marwan Issa, who was reportedly killed in March 2024, and other key commanders.
The confirmation follows a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel earlier this month, ending a 15-month conflict that resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths and significant hostage exchanges.