2024 targeted assassination of Muhammad Deif

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2024 targeted assassination of Mohammed Deif
Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Al-Mawasi is located in the Gaza Strip
Al-Mawasi
Al-Mawasi
Location of Al-Mawasi within the Gaza Strip
Location
Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip
ObjectiveAssassinating the military commander of Hamas
Date13 July 2024
Executed by Israeli Air Force
OutcomeUnknown
Casualties90+ Palestinians[1] killed
289+ Palestinians[1] injured

On 13 July 2024, Israel struck Al-Mawasi in Khan Yunis in an alleged assassination of Mohammed Deif, the military commander of Hamas.

Deif has been the Israeli military's 'most wanted' man since 1995 for killing Israeli soldiers and civilians and the mastermind of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which was the largest terrorist attack in Israel's history and resulted in the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war.

Israel struck the Khan Yunis that morning, to an unknown outcome. Israel claimed Deif had been killed, but Hamas denied this. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 90 people were killed in the attack, and over 300 more were wounded.[2]

Background

See also: 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel–Hamas war, Mohammad Deif, and Terrorism

Mohammed Deif is the leader of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. He was one of the main orchestrators of the October 7 attacks.[3]

Hamas launched on October 7, 2023 an unprecented surprise attack on Israel in which 1,200 Israelis, including were killed, and alleged crimes against humanity were committed[4] and allegations of rape and sexual violence emerged.[5] Over 200 hostages were kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas and the PIJ.[6] 116 remain hostages of Hamas.[7] In response, Israel launched a ground invasion on Gaza, in order to release the hostages and dismantle Hamas. Israel claimed that it had killed 15,000 Hamas militants.[8]

Reactions

Domestic

  •  Israel: The Israel Defense Forces said Mohammed Deif and the commander of Hamas in Khan Younis were in the compound, the IDF said it is waiting for the result of the strike.[9] Israeli army officially states: "Our attack in Mawasi Khan Yunis targets Al-Deif, the commander of the Khan Yunis Brigade, Rafi Salama, and other Hamas activists.".
  •  Hamas: Hamas dismissed the IDF's claims that it had killed Mohammed Deif, labeling them as "false allegations" that aimed to "cover up the scale of the horrific massacre".[10] Hamas also stated that "It is not the first time Israel claims to target Palestinian leaders, only to be proven false later".[11] In a statement, Hamas announced: "The al-Mawasi massacre in Khan Younis has been committed against an area that is crowded with more than 80,000 displaced people. This is an obvious and clear confirmation from the Zionist government that it will continuing its war of extermination against our Palestinian people, through repeatedly and systematically targeting the defenceless displaced civilians in tents, shelters and residential neighbourhoods".[12] The group made a statement on Telegram calling for the Palestinians of the West Bank and East Jerusalem to "mobilize" in response to the strike.[13]
  •  Palestine: Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for the Palestinian Authority said that US bears responsibility for Israel's actions, also stated that "The massacre in al-Mawasi is a continuation of the genocidal war against our people".[14]
  • Palestinian Islamic Jihad: the movement condemned the attack, stating that "The horrific massacre committed by the Zionist entity in al-Mawasi near Khan Younis is an insistence on continuing the war of extermination against our people,"[15]

International

Result

While mainstream Israeli news sources and IDF sources believe that Deif was assassinated, Hamas denies the assassination.[20][21] The Israeli security establishment estimates that Al-Deif was injured in the attack, but his health condition is unclear; sources claim he was seriously injured.

Later in the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference that Israel “is not absolutely certain” that Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif and his deputy Rafa’a Salameh were eliminated in the strikes. But “one way or another,” Netanyahu promised, Israel will eliminate all of the Hamas leadership.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Over 70 killed in Israeli strikes on al-Mawasi 'safe zone' in south Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ Jamal, Urooba; Gadzo, Mersiha; Varshalomidze, Tamila (13 July 2024). "'Children in pieces': Israeli raids on Gaza 'safe zone' kill 90, wound 300". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  3. ^ Nakhoul, Samia; Bassam, Laila (13 July 2024). "Who is the Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif". Reuters. Dubai.
  4. ^ Robbins, Elizabeth (2023-11-12). "Israel Revises October 7 Death Toll After Agonizing Forensics". FDD. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  5. ^ "Sheryl Sandberg's new film testifies to Hamas's brutal sexual violence on October 7". The Times of Israel.
  6. ^ "Hamas Took More Than 200 Hostages From Israel. Here's What We Know". The Wall Street Journal.
  7. ^ "Stories of the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel". BBC News. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  8. ^ "Citing losses and destruction, Hamas figures in Gaza urge leaders to strike deal | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel.
  9. ^ זיתון, יואב (2024-07-13). "צה"ל מאשר: ניסינו לחסל את מוחמד דף במתחם מחבלים, מחכים לתוצאות התקיפה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ Bisset, Victoria; Chamaa, Mohamad El (2024-07-13). "Israel targets Hamas military leader; 71 killed in Mawasi strike, officials say". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Hamas calls on West Bank Palestinians to protest for Gaza". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  14. ^ "US bears responsibility for continuation of massacres: PA". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  15. ^ "PIJ condemns Israel for 'premeditated' al-Mawasi massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Egypt says attacks against Palestinians complicate deal efforts". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Iran's Foreign Ministry condemns Israel's attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Jordan denounces Israeli attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Houthis say 'false claims' cannot cover up al-Mawasi massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry Admits to Flaws in Casualty Data". 9 April 2024.
  21. ^ "How the Gaza Ministry of Health Fakes Casualty Numbers - Tablet Magazine".
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