Organizer of attack on Israel possibly killed in Gaza Strip
Israeli soldiers (photo: Getty Images)
On Saturday morning, an air strike was carried out in the southern Gaza Strip, reports The Times of Israel. According to the Israeli military, the targets were Muhammad Deif, the elusive commander of Hamas's military wing, and another top commander of the terrorist group.
Both were reportedly struck by large munitions above ground while in a building between the Al-Mawassi neighborhood and Khan Younim in southern Gaza, not in the tunnel.
As of 16:00, Deif's fate was unknown, although Jewish media quoted unnamed security officials as saying that there was a growing possibility that he would be killed.
What is known about al-Mawassi
Al-Mawassi has been designated a humanitarian zone by Israel. However, the Israeli Defense Forces stated that the building was not fired upon in a tent city for displaced Palestinians, but rather in a fenced Hamas compound in a civilian environment. Several dozen other Hamas militants were also in the area when the compound was fired upon, including Deif's and Salameh's bodyguards, military sources said.
Who is Muhammad Deif?
Muhammad Deif, 58, who commanded the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades for more than two decades, has long been one of Israel's most wanted terrorist figures. He was the initiator of the October 7 Hamas offensive against Israel, the largest attack in the country's history, when about 1,200 people were killed and about 251 others were dragged into Gaza as hostages.
Who is Rafaa Salameh?
Alongside Deif was another key figure, Rafaa Salameh, the commander of the Hamas Khan Younis Brigade. Salameh is considered close to Deif and has been acting as his deputy since the assassination of the previous deputy brigade commander, al-Qassam.
Information about the air strike
According to IDF sources, the strike was carried out shortly after the military received information about the whereabouts of two Hamas leaders.
The military was still waiting for intelligence to confirm that Deif and Salameh had been killed.
The IDF previously carried out air strikes on the territories of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. As reported by The Times of Israel, several members of the Hamas and Hezbollah groups were killed in the attacks.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that US President Joe Biden supported the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and opposed Israel's occupation of the enclave.
