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The Ghost of Gaza: How Muhammad Deif Became a Palestinian Legend

Muhammad Deif lived in the shadows. He evaded death for decades, slipping through Israel’s grasp time and time again. But on January 30, 2025, Hamas announced his death.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed it in a televised statement. “We announce to our great people the martyrdom of the Chief of Staff of Al-Qassam Brigades, Muhammad Deif,” he said.
For years, Deif was more than just a military commander. To Israel, he was the most wanted man, the mastermind behind countless operations. To Palestinians, he was a symbol of resilience, a man who survived repeated assassination attempts and continued to lead the armed wing of Hamas.

A Life in the Shadows

Muhammad Deif was born in 1965 to a refugee family forced by zionist militia from their village, Al-Qubayba, in 1948. They settled in Khan Younis, in a refugee camp in Gaza. Poverty shaped his early years. As a child, he worked various jobs to help his father, who was a textile worker. He even started a small poultry farm and later became a driver to support his family.
Despite these hardships, he pursued his education. He studied science at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he became involved in student activism, theater, and religious outreach. During this time, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood and later became a key figure in Hamas.

The Making of a Military Leader

Israel arrested Deif in 1989, holding him for 16 months without trial. When he was released, the armed wing of Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades, was emerging as a powerful force.
Deif quickly rose through the ranks. He played a role in founding Al-Qassam’s presence in the West Bank and became its leader after the assassination of Imad Aqel in 1993.
One of his most famous early operations was the 1994 capture of Israeli soldier Nachshon Wachsman. Later, after the assassination of Hamas bomb-maker Yahya Ayyash in 1996, Deif orchestrated a series of retaliatory attacks that killed over 50 Israeli settlers.

A Target for Assassination

Israel saw Deif as the “head of the snake.” The military launched numerous assassination attempts against him, believing his death would cripple Hamas’s armed resistance.
He survived at least five known assassination attempts— in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2014. In one of the most devastating attacks in 2014, Israeli airstrikes targeted a house in Gaza, killing his wife and baby son.
Deif avoided technology, didn’t use mobile phones, and a strong sense of security awareness. His survival turned him into a legend, a ghost that Israel could never catch.

Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood”

On October 7, 2023, Muhammad Deif delivered a rare recorded message. He announced the launch of “Al-Aqsa Flood,” a large-scale operation against Israel. He called on Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and inside the 1948-occupied land to rise up. He also urged regional allies to join the fight.
The operation was the a shock for Israel. It was a preemptive attack to an Israeli plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza.

The End of the Hunt

For months, Israel intensified its airstrikes, targeting Hamas’s top commanders. On January 30, 2025, Hamas confirmed that Deif had been killed. The circumstances of his death remain unclear.
But in his final message, Abu Ubaida made one thing clear: “The martyrdom of our great leaders will not break us. For every leader we lose, a thousand more will rise.”
Even in death, Muhammad Deif’s name will remain etched in the history of the Palestinian resistance.

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