Hamas Confirms Death of Muhammad Deif and Other Senior Terrorists

By Matis Glenn

After half a year of refusing to admit his death, Hamas terrorists finally announced Thursday that its military chief, Muhammad Deif, has died. They also announced the death of other senior terrorists eliminated with Deif, including Deputy Commander Marwan Issa.

Deif, considered Hamas’ second-in-command in Gaza, was one of the masterminds of the Oct. 7 massacre, together with Yahya Sinwar, the group’s then-leader in Gaza, who was also killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Hamas’ al-Qassam brigades, its military wing, made the announcement.

In addition to Issa and Deif, the other senior terrorists whose deaths were announced are:

•Ghazi Abu Tama’a – Head of combat support

•Raad Thabet – Chief of staff

•Rafa’a Salameh – Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade

•Ayman Nofal – Commander of the Central Gaza Brigade

•Ahmed Andour – Commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade

Israel confirmed Deif’s death in July, but Hamas had thus far refused to accept the report, despite the fact that Deif had made no public appearances and the terrorists had lost all communication with him since the strike.

Sources in November told a Saudi-owned London news outlet, Asharq al-Awsat, that Hamas had accepted Deif’s death, but the terror group itself did not confirm the report.

Deif was killed with other terrorists in Kuan Yunis.