An unusual Israeli airstrike carried out Saturday noon in the area of displaced persons' shelters in Al-Mawasi, southern Gaza Strip, reportedly targeted the supreme commander of Hamas' military wing Mohammed Deif, who was hiding there.
While Israeli intelligence and Air Force officials are investigating the results, they believe Deif was at least critically injured in the attack, though his death has not been confirmed. Another target in the assassination attempt was Rafa Salama, the commander of the terrorist group's Khan Younis Brigade.
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Supreme commander of Hamas' military wing Mohammed Deif
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
A senior security official assessed that "this was not their permanent location, but an operational opportunity that emerged in recent hours."
Palestinians in Gaza reported dozens of fatalities and over 100 injuries in the attack on Hamas' military chief, who had survived seven previous assassination attempts.
In 2002, he survived a severe assassination attempt in which he was believed to have lost an eye, a leg and an arm.
The last attempt on his life before the October 7 massacre came during 2014's Operation Protective Edge, when his wife and son were killed in a strike on a house in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.
The shadowy arch-terrorist was one of Hamas' earliest recruits and was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1989. He spent 16 months in administrative detention on charges of taking part in the terror group's military activities.
IDF strike on Khan Younis
During his detention, he worked to establish the al-Qassam Brigades, now Hamas' military wing, aiming to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Additionally, he orchestrated the construction of tunnels for Hamas terrorists to infiltrate Israel and advanced the strategy of launching numerous rockets from the Gaza Strip.
A Hamas official claims that all those killed in Saturday's attack were civilians and that the attack is proof that Israel is not interested in a cease-fire agreement. Hamas blamed the IDF for the attack, calling it a "massacre."
The Prime Minister's Office said that "Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a clear directive at the beginning of the war to eliminate senior Hamas officials. The prime minister was updated throughout the night and continues to receive ongoing updates. He will hold a security assessment with all security and military intelligence officials today to discuss developments and next steps."