The Israeli military said Thursday that it has confirmed that the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July.
The Israeli military said Thursday that it has confirmed that the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July.
The announcement comes a day after an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital killed Hamas’ top political leader.
Israel believes that Deif, the head of Hamas’ military, and Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader in Gaza, were the chief architects of the Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and triggered the Israel-Hamas war. Sinwar is believed to remain in hiding in Gaza.
Israel has not confirmed or denied it was behind Tuesday’s strike in Tehran that killed Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political chief. Hamas has said Deif survived the July attack in Gaza and did not immediately comment on the military’s announcement of confirmation.
The killing of two of Hamas’ most senior figures brings a victory for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has said that he will not end the campaign in Gaza until Israel destroys Hamas’ military capabilities.
