The long-time leader of the Qassam Brigades is among Israel’s most wanted men and has been the target of several airstrikes.
Mohammed Deif, the military commander of Hamas in Gaza, has survived another Israeli assassination attempt and is “recovering”, a senior official with the Palestinian group says.
The statement by a Hamas official on Sunday came after reports that Deif had been targeted in a major Israeli airstrike on the southern part of the enclave, killing at least 90 people and injuring 300.
“Commander Mohammad Deif is closely and directly supervising the operations of Hamas’ military wing,” the official told news agency.
Israel says its Saturday bombardment of al-Mawasi camp, a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza, was aimed at killing Deif, who has long been at the top of Israel’s most-wanted list.
In response to Hamas’ claim, Israel’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halvi said in a televised statement on Sunday that Hamas was “covering up the results” of its airstrike on a compound where Deif was allegedly hiding.
Halavi said it was too early to summarize the results of the attack, which Hamas was trying to cover up.
On the morning of October 7, Hamas released a rare audio recording of Deif announcing the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, implying that the attack was retaliation for Israeli raids on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holy place of Islam.
Deif means “visitor” or “guest” in Arabic Language, and some say it’s because the Hamas military commander is always on his trail with Israeli hunters.
Folk Hero:
According to reports, Deif lost an eye and suffered severe leg injuries in an Israeli assassination attempt. His survival while running the armed wing of Hamas turned him into a “folk hero” among Palestinians.