Mohammad Deif is alive: Hamas refutes Israeli claims

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, denied Israeli claims that Mohammad Deif, the commander of Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
In a Thursday interview with the Associated Press (AP), Hamdan said the head of the Izz al-Din al Qassam Brigades was “fine” after Israel claimed to have assassinated him in airstrikes on July 13.
This is the first time a senior Hamas official has addressed the Israeli claim, made on August 1.
Hamdan said that Hamas believes Israel claimed Deif was the target of the July attack to “justify the massacre” on that day.
88 Palestinians were killed and at least 289 others were wounded in the Israeli airstrikes that day, according to the Palestinian health ministry, as Israeli bombs struck tents housing displaced people in the so-called humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.
Hamdan also accused “Israel” of escalating attacks on Hamas leaders following the group’s preliminary acceptance of a recent ceasefire proposal.
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan refutes Israel's claims, confirming that Hamas' chief military commander, Mohammed Deif, is well and in good health. pic.twitter.com/zyf7i4zKot
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 15, 2024
On 13 July, Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to declare a “fake victory” by announcing an assassination attempt during a news conference.
Hayya reiterated that Israel’s claims of targeting Deif were false “despite the pain for the dozens of victims and martyrs, most of whom were women and children”.
“The blood of Mohammad Deif is not more valuable or better than the blood of the smallest Palestinian child. Still, we tell Netanyahu: you have failed. Mohammad Deif is listening to you now and mocking your false, empty statements,” Hayya said during the interview.
Two weeks later, on August 1, Israel said it had confirmed Deif’s death through an intelligence assessment. It provided no further detail.
Deif, known for surviving seven assassination attempts, is referred to as the “Master of Disguise” and the “Man with Nine Lives.”
Hamdan also addressed media reports suggesting difficulties in communicating with Hamas leadership, including Yehya Sinwar, saying that while challenges exist due to the ongoing aggression, communication remains effective and the leadership is managing well.