Israel claims July strike killed Hamas commander Mohammed Deif in Gaza

He was the target of an attack that killed 90 people in Al Mawasi safe zone

Mohammed Deif in a location given as Gaza Strip, in January. Reuters

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The Israeli army said on Thursday a strike that claimed the lives of 90 people in Gaza on July 13, also killed Hamas' senior military commander Mohammed Deif.

It struck Al Mawasi “safe zone” in the south of the enclave, claiming it targeted Mr Deif and the commander of Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade, Rafaa Salama.

Mr Deif was killed in the “precise, targeted strike on a compound”, the army said.

On Thursday, Hamas said it can neither confirm nor deny the death of any of the commanders in its Al Qassam brigades military wing.

“Confirming or denying the martyrdom of any of Al Qassam leaders is the responsibility of the Qassam Brigades' leadership. Unless they announce it, no news published in the media or by any other parties can be confirmed.

But at the time of the strike, it said he survived, and that Israel was making claims to “cover up the extent of the massacre” in Al Mawasi, which was designated a “safe zone” by Israel.

On Wednesday, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Mr Deif is considered one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed. More than 39,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes and gunfire in return.

Mr Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab Al Masri, is often referred to as the “cat with nine lives” because of several failed Israeli assassination attempts. His nom de guerre, 'Deif', means guest in Arabic and refers to his constant movement to evade Israel, staying in his supporters' homes for safety.

Many of his family members have also been killed by Israel.

Families rest in the shade as summer temperatures reach over 30 degrees centigrade in Gaza on July 23, 2024. AFP

Mr Deif was born in 1965 in a refugee camp in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis after his family fled to Gaza following the mass exodus of 1948.

He was one of Hamas's first members, after its creation in 1987 in the first Intifada.

A veteran member of Hamas, having been with the group for over two decades, Mr Deif had a big impact on Hamas's tunnel network and bomb-making expertise. He had been leader of the group's military wing, Al Qassam Brigades, for 22 years.

Israel killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh Al Arouri during a strike in Beirut's southern suburbs in January.

Mr Arouri helped establish the Al Qassam Brigades and was a key figure for the group in the West Bank, before being transferred to Lebanon.

Rafaa Salama is another senior military leader in Hamas – who was presumably killed in the July 13 strike, according to Israel.

Mr Salama is a close associate of Mr Deif and joined Hamas in the 90s.

The Israeli army accuses Mr Salama of “playing a significant role in the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,” in 2014.

Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar remains at large and is Israel's biggest target, especially as he is rarely seen in public and is believed to be hiding in the tunnel network.