2024 targeted assassination of Muhammad Deif
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| 2024 targeted assassination of Mohammed Deif | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Israel–Hamas war | |
  Al-Mawasi Location of Al-Mawasi within the Gaza Strip | |
| Location | Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip |
| Objective | Assassinating the military commander of Hamas |
| Date | 13 July 2024 |
| Executed by |  Israeli Air Force |
| Outcome | Unknown |
| Casualties | 71+ 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 70 people were killed in the attack.
Background[edit]
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.[2]
Hamas launched on October 7, 2023 an unprecented surprise attack on Israel in which 1,200 Israelis, including many women, children and the elderly were killed, and crimes against humanity were committed[3] and allegations of rape and sexual violence emerged.[4] Over 200 hostages including women, children and the elderly were kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.[5] 116 remain hostages of Hamas.[6] In response, Israel launched a ground operation on Gaza, in order to release the hostages and disband Hamas. Israel claimed that it had killed 15,000 Hamas militants.[7]
Reactions[edit]
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.[8] 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.".
International[edit]
Egypt: The Foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack.[9]
Iran: Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the attack, stating on X that the attack was the "latest crime in the series of crimes committed by the child-killing Zionist regime".[10]
Jordan: Foreign ministry spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah condemned the attack.[11]
Houthi movement: The group condemned the attack, calling Israel's leaders "war criminals" and stated that "The enemy's false claims about targeting leaders in the Palestinian resistance cannot cover up the ugliness of its crimes,".[12]
Result[edit]
While mainstream Israeli news sources and IDF sources believe that Deif was assassinated, Hamas denies the assassination.[13][14] 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.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Over 70 killed in Israeli strikes on al-Mawasi 'safe zone' in south Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ Nakhoul, Samia; Bassam, Laila (13 July 2024). "Who is the Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif". Reuters. Dubai.
- ^ Robbins, Elizabeth (2023-11-12). "Israel Revises October 7 Death Toll After Agonizing Forensics". FDD. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Sheryl Sandberg's new film testifies to Hamas's brutal sexual violence on October 7". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "Hamas Took More Than 200 Hostages From Israel. Here's What We Know". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Stories of the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel". BBC News. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "Citing losses and destruction, Hamas figures in Gaza urge leaders to strike deal | The Times of Israel". The Times of Israel.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Egypt says attacks against Palestinians complicate deal efforts". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Iran's Foreign Ministry condemns Israel's attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Jordan denounces Israeli attack on al-Mawasi". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Houthis say 'false claims' cannot cover up al-Mawasi massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry Admits to Flaws in Casualty Data". 9 April 2024.
- ^ "How the Gaza Ministry of Health Fakes Casualty Numbers - Tablet Magazine".