The Israeli military has officially confirmed that Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas' military wing, was killed in an airstrike last month.
The announcement came on Thursday, following an intelligence assessment that identified Deif as a casualty of the July 13th strike in the Khan Yunis area of Gaza.
"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) announces that on July 13th, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike," the military stated, as reported by Reuters.
Hamas has yet to respond to the Israeli announcement.
This news coincides with the funeral of the group's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
Deif was a key figure in Hamas. He was believed to be one of the architects behind the group's October 7th attack on southern Israel, an event that ignited the current Gaza conflict, now in its 300th day.
Over his 30-year rise through Hamas' ranks, Deif was instrumental in developing the group's tunnel network and bomb-making capabilities.
He had long been at the top of Israel's most wanted list and was held responsible for numerous suicide bombings that claimed the lives of dozens of Israelis.
