Hamas Confirms Death of Military Chief Mohammed Deif Months After Israeli Airstrike

Deif, accused of orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, was killed in a July 2024 airstrike in Gaza, with Hamas acknowledging his death only now.

Hamas announced the death of Mohammed Deif, its military chief, months after Israel claimed to have killed him in a July 2024 airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Deif was a key figure in planning the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages being taken to Gaza.
The Israeli military stated that Deif was killed alongside other senior Hamas commanders, including Rafe Salama, in a targeted operation based on intelligence assessments.
Deif, who survived multiple assassination attempts over decades, was also instrumental in developing Hamas's tunnel networks and Qassam rockets.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Deif, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and others, citing alleged war crimes during the 15-month conflict that ended in January 2025.