Hamas Military Wing Chief, Muhammed Deif Assassinated, 'Confirms' IDF (X image@AryJeay)

Israel Defence Force (IDF) confirmed the death of head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif. Israel has confirmed assassination of the leader in an X post that read, “We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated”.

We can now confirm: Mohammed Deif was eliminated.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 1, 2024

“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) announces that on July 13th, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike,” the military said, as quoted by Reuters.

The announcement came a day after Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. Though Israel refused to comment on the incident, it widely presumed that the attack was carried out on behalf of Israel.

IDF posted the confirmation while funeral procession of Haniyeh was taking place in Tehran.

Deif is believed to have been one of the masterminds of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which triggered the Gaza war, which is now in its 300th day.

Deif was reportedly among those who have long been targeted by Israel. It was believed by the Israel that he has been among the key architects of the attacks on Oct. 7 of Hamas on Israel. As the founder of Hamas’s armed wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, and its leader for more than two decades, Deif had long been on Israel’s kill list and survived at least seven assassination attempts, Israeli media reported.

He was targeted alongside Rafa Salameh, leader of Hamas forces in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, according to a joint statement July 14 by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. Salameh was one of Deif’s “closest associates” and also played a central role in planning the Oct. 7 assault, according to the statement, reported Washington Post.

Hamas denied the previous day that Deif had been killed. “You have failed,” Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, told Al Jazeera, addressing Netanyahu. “Mohammad Deif is listening to you now and mocking your false, empty statements.”

Hamas is yet to respond to the Israeli ‘confirmation’.