Who is Mohammed Deif, Hamas commander behind attack on Israel

Tensions escalated rapidly as Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip in response to an unprecedented attack that the armed Palestinian group Hamas carried out on Saturday. Hamas, which has caused the deaths of more than 800 Israelis through assaults on multiple towns in southern Israel, triggered an aggressive response from Israel. Retaliating, Israel launched a heavy airstrike on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the loss of more than 500 Palestinian lives.

People say that Mohammed Deif, the elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, masterminded the attack on Israel. The Hamas commander, who rarely appears in public, named the invasion of Israel by Hamas fighters as the operation 'Al-Aqsa Storm' in a statement he issued on Saturday.

Deif stated that the blockade of Gaza for the past 16 years, the ongoing Israeli occupation and a series of recent incidents escalating Israeli-Palestinian tensions to an unprecedented level directly triggered the attack.

Who is Mohammed Deif?

Mohammed Deif, born as Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Masri in 1965, is a prominent figure in the Palestinian militant landscape. He serves as the supreme military commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.

Born in the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, Deif joined Hamas in 1990. His nomadic lifestyle earned him the nickname “Deif,” which translates to “guest” in Arabic.

Despite being Israel’s ‘most wanted’ man since 1995 for orchestrating attacks that killed Israeli soldiers and civilians, Deif has survived seven assassination attempts over the past two decades. These attempts have left him with severe injuries, including the loss of an eye and part of his arm.

Numerous violent incidents have marked Deif's leadership within Hamas. He involved himself in the kidnappings and killings of IDF soldiers Shahar Simani, Aryeh Frankenthal, and Nachshon Wachsman. He also played a key role in bus bombings in Jerusalem and Ashkelon that killed about 50 Israelis.

Despite these violent acts, Deif has managed to evade capture and continues to lead Hamas’s military wing. His survival against numerous assassination attempts has only added to his mystique.

In recent years, there have been concerns about Deif’s potential ties to Al Qaeda. Some Israeli media outlets have suggested that he may be looking to build an Al Qaeda network in the Gaza Strip since he did not support the approach of Hamas. However, this claim was denied by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Israeli strikes target home of Deif's relatives

Overnight, Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted the residence of Mohammad Deif, the Hamas military commander, in Khan Younis, Gaza.

Palestinian sources claim the strike hit Deif's father's house, resulting in casualties, including Deif's brother, son, and his brother's granddaughter.

Palestinian militant Mohammed Deif, the secretive mastermind, is behind the assault. Deif named the attack on Israel as Al Aqsa Flood, signalling that it was payback for the Israeli raids at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque.

"Deif broadcast an audio tape saying, "Today the rage of Al Aqsa, the rage of our people and nation is exploding. Our mujahedeen (fighters), today is your day to make this criminal understand that his time has ended."

"The FT report states that people believe Deif received education and training under Yahya Ayyash, the notorious bombmaker known as the 'Engineer.' Israel assassinated Ayyash in 1996 using an explosive-rigged mobile phone." Deif subsequently became affiliated with the Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, a position he has held since 2002.

Deif's current whereabouts remain undisclosed, but it's likely that he is hiding in the network of tunnels beneath Gaza. An Israeli security source has asserted that Deif played a direct role in planning and executing the attack, consistently maintaining his status as one of Israel's most sought-after targets.

The US State Department has designated him as a terrorist. "In 2014, Israel confirmed that they attempted to assassinate Deif with a targeted strike on a residence, and they believed the attack resulted in the death of his wife, three-year-old daughter, and seven-month-old son."

Keep reading

• Jammu and Kashmir facing worst impact of climate change
• Climate Change impacts: Kashmir’s agri and horti sectors at risk
• Climate change leaves Kashmir villages without water
• Climate Change: Impact of Untimely Snowfall on Nomads of Kashmir
• Why are Sheep dying in Kashmir?

Follow Ground Report for Climate Change and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected]