Thu Jan 30 19:17:12 UTC 2025: ## Hamas Confirms Death of Top Military Commander Mohammed Deif

**GAZA CITY** – Hamas has confirmed the death of its top military commander, Mohammed Deif, in a statement released Thursday. While Israel claimed to have killed Deif in an air strike in July, Hamas had remained silent until now. Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, described Deif’s death as “befitting” a leader who “exhausted the enemy for more than 30 years.”

Deif, a founding member and long-time leader of the Qassam Brigades, was responsible for planning numerous attacks that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Israelis. He was also credited with developing Hamas’s extensive tunnel network and bomb-making capabilities. Just weeks before the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, Deif issued a rare audio recording announcing the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation.

The announcement also confirmed the death of several other senior Hamas military commanders, including deputy military commander Marwan Issa (whose death Israel also previously claimed in March), and several brigade commanders.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for Deif in November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC also issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for similar charges.

Read More