Baku, TurkicWorld
Hamas confirmed on Thursday the death of Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing, six months after Israel announced he was killed.
This is the first statement Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has released on Deif’s condition since the Israeli military said last August that he was killed in airstrike in southern Gaza the month before, TurkicWorld reports referencing Al-Awsat.
Thursday's announcement culminated months of speculation about Deif’s fate. Hamas had not explicitly confirmed or denied Israel’s claim.
Hamas’ longtime shadowy military leader was one of the alleged masterminds of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.
For years, he topped Israel’s most-wanted list. He gained mythical status among Palestinians, surviving a string of Israeli assassination attempts and not showing his face in public for decades.