Hamas has confirmed the death of its military leader, Mohammed Deif, months after Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have killed him in July. Israel accused Deif of masterminding the deadly October 7 attack in southern Israel, which led to 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.

Deif’s Role in Hamas Leadership

Deif’s Legacy

Deif was instrumental in building Hamas' vast network of tunnels across Gaza. He was also well-known for his deadly bomb-making skills. On October 7, Hamas released a recording where Deif announced the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, signaling that the attack was in retaliation for Israeli raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

International Arrest Warrants for Deif

In November of the previous year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Deif, accusing him of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC also issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their actions in Gaza.

The Death of Marwan Issa

Hamas also confirmed the death of Marwan Issa, its deputy military commander. Issa was one of Israel's most-wanted individuals. The European Union linked him directly to the October 7 attack and placed him on its terrorist blacklist. The United States confirmed Issa's death in March of the previous year.