The Israeli navy stated it had confirmed that Hamas navy chief Mohammed Deif was killed in an air strike within the Gaza Strip final month.
On July 13, Deif was the goal of an assault on a compound within the Khan Younis space. Hamas has not confirmed his loss of life.
Israel says Deif was a type of answerable for planning the Oct. 7 assault in southern Israel that killed 1,200 folks and took 251 hostage.
On Wednesday, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed throughout a go to to Iran. Israel has not commented instantly on his loss of life.
After the October assaults, Israel launched an enormous navy intervention in Gaza, saying it was aimed toward destroying Hamas.
Not less than 39,480 folks have been killed thus far, based on the well being ministry within the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
The Israeli navy stated in an announcement on Thursday that “an intelligence evaluation can affirm that Mohammed Deif was eradicated within the assault on July 13.”
Gaza’s Hamas well being division stated on the time that the air strikes had killed greater than 90 folks, however denied that Deif was among the many lifeless.
Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Galant stated the loss of life of Mohammed Deif was “an vital milestone” within the technique of dismantling Hamas.
He added: “This operation displays the truth that Hamas is disintegrating and Hamas terrorists should both give up or be eradicated.”
Who’s Mohammed Deif?
Mohammed Deif is the pinnacle of the Izzedin al-Qassam Brigades, the navy wing of the Hamas motion.
He has been one in all Israel’s most needed males for many years and has survived a number of assassination makes an attempt, together with one in 2002 during which he misplaced an eye fixed.
In 1989, he was imprisoned by Israeli authorities.
Israel accuses him of planning and overseeing the 1996 bus bombings that killed dozens of Israelis and of taking part within the seize and killing of three Israeli troopers within the mid-Nineties.
He’s additionally identified to have helped construct tunnels that allowed Hamas militants to cross from Gaza into Israel.
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