Hamas confirms death of Mohammed Deif and six senior commanders

Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has officially confirmed the death of its Chief of Staff, Mohammed Deif, along with six senior commanders, during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The announcement comes six months after Israel claimed it had killed Deif in an airstrike in al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, in July 2024.

Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, disclosed the news in a televised statement, revealing that Deif was killed alongside his deputy, Marwan Issa, and other commanders, including Ghazi Abu Tamaa, Raed Thabet, Rafei Salama, Ahmed Al-Ghandour, and Ayman Noufal.

“We mourn the martyrdom of our leader, Mohammed al-Deif, to our great people,” Obeida declared. “This is befitting of our leader Mohammed Deif, who exhausted the enemy for more than 30 years.”

The group noted that the announcement followed rigorous verification and security measures. While specific details of their deaths remain undisclosed, Hamas stated that they “fell in battle against Israeli forces during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation.”

A legacy of resistance

Mohammed Deif, born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in the Khan Younis refugee camp in 1965, had been one of Israel’s most wanted figures for over three decades. Known for his strategic acumen, Deif rose to prominence in the early 1990s and assumed leadership of the Al-Qassam Brigades in 2002. He was widely credited with advancing the group’s tunnel warfare tactics and bomb-making expertise, making him a key figure in Hamas’s military operations.

On October 7, 2023, Deif made a rare public audio appearance, announcing the launch of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation as a response to Israeli raids at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. The operation led to the deaths of 1,139 Israelis and resulted in 250 captives being taken to Gaza.

The July airstrike and its aftermath

The attack that Israel claimed had killed Deif targeted a tent encampment in Khan Younis, which had been designated a “safe zone” for displaced Palestinians. The Israeli airstrike killed 90 civilians—mostly women and children—and injured over 300 others.

Hamas’s confirmation of Deif’s death follows months of speculation. The announcement underscores the intense toll the conflict has taken on Gaza’s leadership, but Abu Obeida stressed that the loss would not undermine Hamas’s resolve. “The martyrdom of our great leaders, despite our immense loss, did not and will not weaken the resolve of our battalions and resistance,” he said.

Widespread devastation in Gaza

Since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, the situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic proportions. Israeli military operations have killed more than 47,400 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, and injured over 111,000. More than 11,000 people remain missing amid the devastation.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for both Mohammed Deif and other Hamas leaders for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes. Similar charges have been leveled against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their roles in the war in Gaza.

Despite the staggering human cost, the Al-Qassam Brigades vowed to continue their fight, framing the deaths of Deif and other leaders as sacrifices for their cause.