Israel conducted a significant airstrike in Gaza on Saturday, targeting the Hamas commander who is believed to be responsible for the deadly October 7 attack that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and escalated the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped five 2,000-pound bombs on a compound where Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, and Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, were reportedly located. While the IDF has not officially confirmed whether Deif and Salameh were killed in the airstrike, some Israeli outlets have reported a "high likelihood" of Deif's death. However, confirmation by Israel is still pending. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also scheduled to hold a press conference in Jerusalem on Saturday night.
Deif, considered the second-in-command for Hamas in Gaza, behind Yahya Sinwar, has been a long-time target for Israel due to his role in numerous attacks and his reputation for being elusive. Israel previously placed a $100,000 bounty on him last December.
The strike occurred inside the al-Mawasi refugee camp, an Israeli-designated safe zone. Palestinians have been informed to leave the area due to ongoing fighting. The IDF acknowledged that the targeted compound was in a civilian area but stated it was not part of a camp for displaced Palestinians.
“The area that was struck is an open and forested area, with several buildings and sheds,” the Israeli military said.
Hamas has denied that Deif was targeted in the strike and accused Israel of justifying "the extent of the horrific massacre." Hamas reported that at least 71 Palestinians were killed in the strike. However, Hamas’s casualty figures have often been criticized for being inflated and including terrorists counted as civilians. Hamas also has a history of placing high-value targets in densely populated areas to use civilians as human shields.
“Israel targeted October 7 mastermind Muhammed Deif, head of the Hamas military wing,” explained Eylon Levy, a former Israeli government spokesman, on X. “If he was hiding among civilians in a makeshift camp, that shows how determined Hamas is to use civilians as human shields and sacrifices.”
