In a significant escalation in the southern Gaza Strip, Muhammad Deif, the notorious commander of Hamas’ military wing, and another top Hamas commander, Rafa’a Salameh, were the purported targets of an Israeli airstrike early Saturday morning. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation, which aimed at a low-rise building between the al-Mawasi area and Khan Yunis, a location not typically associated with underground terror facilities.
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The strike, which was executed with substantial munitions, has led to widespread devastation. Over 90 individuals were reported killed, with Hamas officials asserting that the victims included numerous civilians. The IDF, however, maintains that the strike was precise, hitting a known Hamas compound, and that most casualties were likely operatives of the group, including guards of Deif and Salameh.
As the dust settles, the condition of Muhammad Deif remains uncertain, with Israeli defense sources citing a “growing likelihood” that he was among those killed. Deif, 58, has been a pivotal figure in Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, for more than two decades and has narrowly escaped several assassination attempts by Israel in the past.