The Gaza conflict escalates as Israel confirms the killing of another Hamas commander, providing video proof.
According to the IDF, they have claimed responsibility for a strike in Khan Yunis last month that eliminated Mohammed Deif, who was the chief of the group’s military wing.
More than two weeks ago, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a strike in Gaza that resulted in the death of a senior Hamas commander. The IDF has now confirmed this. This announcement follows the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, political leader of Hamas, who was killed by rocket attack while visiting Iran.
The IDF announced on Thursday that Mohammed Deif, who served as both Hamas’ military wing commander and the group’s second-highest official in Gaza, was killed during an airstrike that occurred in Khan Yunis located throughout southern Gazan city. The incident took place on July 13th.
Following the aforementioned attack, IDF asserted that Rafa Salameh, who led Hamas troops in Khan Younis, had been fatality. Nevertheless, Israeli armed forces have revealed uncertainty regarding Deif’s demise until this point.
The IDF shared a video on social media that exhibited the destruction of several buildings, where Deif was believed to have taken shelter, by a missile.
Deif’s death has not been confirmed or denied by Hamas. On July 13, Khan Younis was subjected to multiple airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 90 individuals and injuries to approximately 300 others, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
As per the Israeli military, Deif became a part of Hamas during the First Intifada – an era marked with intense protests, riots and violence that shook Israel alongwith Palestinian territories between 1987 till Oslo Accords signing in 1993. The IDF alleged that over time Deif’s position within Hamas rose swiftly as he “orchestrated countless terrorist attacks” against Jewish state by directing and planning them himself.
Portraying Deif’s death as a crucial step towards the dismantling of Hamas’ military and governing control in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant likened him to “the Osama Bin Laden of Gaza.”
The IDF made their statement one day following the reported bombing that led to the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Israel has not confirmed nor denied any involvement in these killings outside its borders as per usual policy while Iran and Hamas have both accused them of orchestrating it.
The tension between Israel and Iran increased significantly after the murder of Haniyeh, leading to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei making a vow to seek revenge on Israel. A report by The New York Times stated that Khamenei has given orders for an attack against Israel as retaliation; however, details such as when or how this will occur remain unknown.
