By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell
CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The top of Hamas’ navy wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza final month, the Israeli navy stated on Thursday, a day after the group’s political chief was assassinated in Tehran.
Deif is believed to have been one of many masterminds of Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel which triggered the Gaza conflict.
“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) publicizes that on July thirteenth, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck within the space of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence evaluation, it may be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eradicated within the strike,” the navy stated.
Hamas neither confirmed nor denied the killing of Deif, however one official, Ezzat Rashaq, stated any phrase on deaths of its leaders was its duty alone.
“Except both of them (the Hamas political and navy management) publicizes it, no information revealed within the media or by every other events might be confirmed,” Rashaq stated.
The Israeli announcement got here as crowds gathered within the Iranian capital for the funeral procession of Hamas’ chief Isamil Haniyeh.
Iran and Hamas have blamed Haniyeh’s killing on Israel, which has neither denied nor confirmed a job within the assassination. It did nonetheless affirm it killed a senior commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah motion in Beirut on Tuesday.
Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran. The most recent killings have raised concern of an additional escalation in hostilities within the Center East, with threats of revenge in opposition to Israel, which has stated it doesn’t search regional conflict however that it could reply forcefully to any assault.
STRING OF DEATHS
On Thursday, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated Haniyeh’s demise wouldn’t weaken the group’s fighters in Gaza.
“Regardless of the crime, Hamas stays robust and the confrontation in Gaza is continuous,” he stated.
However his demise was the most recent in a collection that has focused the group’s leaders. Haniyeh’s deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in a drone strike in Beirut in January. In March, Israel stated it had killed Marwan Issa, Deif’s deputy.
America confirmed Issa’s demise in an Israeli operation. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his demise.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated Deif’s demise was a milestone in Israel’s aim of destroying Hamas’ navy wing, generally known as Al-Qassam Brigades.
“Hamas is disintegrating,” Gallant stated on X. “Hamas terrorists might both give up or they are going to be eradicated.”
One among Hamas’ most dominant figures, Deif rose via the group’s ranks over 30 years, growing its community of tunnels and its bomb-making experience.
He has topped Israel’s most wished listing for many years, held personally accountable for the deaths of dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings. Scores of Palestinians have been killed within the airstrike that killed him, medics in Gaza say.
The opposite mastermind of the Oct. 7 assault, Yahaya Sinwar, continues to be believed to be directing navy operations, probably from bunkers beneath Gaza, whereas enjoying a number one position in oblique negotiations with Israel for a prisoner swap deal.
However now on the three hundredth day of warfare in Gaza, hopes for a hostage deal and ceasefire have dimmed.
The conflict erupted when militants led by Hamas stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 individuals, most of them civilians, and taking round 250 hostages again to Gaza, in response to Israeli tallies.
The Gaza well being ministry says greater than 39,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed within the subsequent Israeli offensive. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians in its fatality reviews.
Israel has misplaced 329 troopers in Gaza and says round a 3rd of the Palestinian lifeless are fighters.
On Thursday, the Israeli navy stated it struck in opposition to dozens of Hamas targets in Gaza, together with fighters and infrastructure. A minimum of 13 individuals had been killed within the Israeli bombardments throughout the enclave, Gaza medics stated.
An Israeli missile that hit a automobile on the entrance of Al-Maghazi district in central Gaza killed six individuals and 5 extra have been killed in a strike on a home in close by Nusseirat, medics stated, whereas a airstrike in Gaza Metropolis killed two others.
East of Al-Maghazi, residents stated tanks have been firing as they tried to push deeper into the realm.
Earlier, Israeli authorities launched 15 Palestinians whom it had detained previously months in Gaza. The boys arrived for remedy at a Gaza hospital, complaining of abuse throughout their detention. Israel denies torture and is investigating suspected abuse of detainees.
