TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military has announced that it has killed the top commander of Hamas’ military wing.
The announcement follows a series of recent targeted killings of high-ranking Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in the region.
Israel's airstrike on July 13 targeted Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades. This strike occurred in an area Israel had designated as a safe zone for civilians and resulted in 90 deaths, including women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not separate combatants from civilians.
The Israeli military now states that Deif was among those killed in the strike. This conclusion is based on new intelligence, though the military has not provided further details. Hamas has not yet officially confirmed Deif’s death.
Deif is believed to have survived multiple previous Israeli assassination attempts. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described him as the "Osama Bin Laden of Gaza."
“This is a significant milestone in the effort to dismantle Hamas as a military and governing force in Gaza, and in achieving the objectives of this war,” Gallant stated.
In recent days, Israel also claimed responsibility for the assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, and Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Iran, in a strike widely attributed to Israel.
In response, Israel is preparing for potential retaliatory attacks. Several major airlines have canceled flights to Israel amid fears of escalating violence.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza and the suspected mastermind behind the October 7 attack on Israel, is believed to still be at large in Gaza.
The Israeli announcements regarding the deaths of both Hamas’ military and political leaders might provide Israel with a "victory narrative," potentially facilitating progress in stalled negotiations and paving the way for a ceasefire deal and hostage-prisoner exchange with Hamas.
While Israel’s defense officials have been advocating for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is perceived to be delaying such a deal due to pressure from his far-right political allies who support continuing the conflict in Gaza.
In a speech on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the ongoing calls to end the war, both domestically and internationally. “There hasn’t been a week where people haven’t urged me, both at home and abroad, to end the war,” Netanyahu said. “They argue that we have achieved all that can be achieved and that victory is unattainable. I did not give in to those voices then, and I will not give in to them now.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, speaking on Thursday, called on Israel to convert its military successes into diplomatic progress, specifically to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.