In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli military announced on Thursday that it successfully killed Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif in an airstrike on July 13. The strike targeted Deif in Gaza’s Khan Younis, and Israeli officials assert they have confirmed his death through intelligence.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hailed Deif’s alleged killing as a crucial achievement in Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas both as a military force and a governing authority in Gaza. Gallant compared Deif to “the Osama Bin Laden of Gaza,” emphasizing the symbolic and strategic importance of his death.
“The killing of Deif reflects the fact that Hamas is disintegrating,” Gallant declared. “Hamas terrorists may either surrender or they will be eliminated. Israel’s defense establishment will pursue Hamas terrorists – both the planners and the perpetrators of the 07.10 massacre. We will not rest until this mission is accomplished,” he stated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
This announcement comes just a day after Israel reportedly killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in an airstrike in Tehran. Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital to participate in the inauguration of the new Iranian president.
In response to Haniyeh’s death, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered a retaliatory strike on Israel, escalating tensions further in an already volatile region.
The killing of Mohammad Deif, if confirmed, represents a major blow to Hamas. Deif, who has been a key figure in Hamas’s military operations, has long been a target for Israeli forces. His death is seen as a significant step in Israel’s strategy to weaken Hamas’s leadership and operational capabilities.
As the situation continues to unfold, the ramifications of these targeted killings on the broader conflict and on the region’s stability remain to be seen.