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.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
