Israel Confirms Hamas Terror Commander Muhammad Deif was Killed on July 13

Latest Developments

After two weeks of speculation about his fate, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on August 1 that Hamas military commander Muhammad Deif was eliminated in an airstrike. The July 13 strike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis killed both Deif — a key architect of the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7 — and Hamas brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh. While Salameh’s death was confirmed the day after the strike, Deif’s fate was not immediately clear. “The military said it obtained intelligence confirming his death on Thursday morning. Deif, 58, who commanded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades for over two decades, was long one of the terror figures most wanted by Israel,” The Times of Israel noted. The confirmation of Deif’s death came in the same week that Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a presumed Israeli attack while visiting Iran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as the elimination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The IDF continues to seek out Hamas leaders and commanders who remain alive.

Expert Analysis

“Hamas is suffering serious blows to its leadership, and Israel is illustrating it can carry out precise operations to defeat Hamas in Gaza. In that regard, the elimination of Muhammed Deif can be considered a major achievement towards the final defeat of this Iran-backed organization in Gaza.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Hamas has not experienced such devastating blows to its leadership and ground forces since the early 2000s. The deaths of Muhammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh in quick succession have significantly undermined the organization. Israel now has a strategic opportunity to leverage this instability to negotiate a hostage deal that aligns with its interests.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal. 

Israeli Defense Minister: Deif was the ‘Osama Bin Laden of Gaza’

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Muhammad Deif as the “Osama Bin Laden of Gaza” in a statement posted to X on August 1. “This is a significant milestone in the process of dismantling Hamas as a military and governing authority in Gaza, and in the achievement of the goals of this war,” he noted. According to Gallant’s summary of the operation, Deif had traveled the short distance from Khan Younis to the Mawasi area of Gaza — a designated humanitarian zone — to meet with Salameh. “This operation reflects the fact that Hamas is disintegrating, and that Hamas terrorists may either surrender or they will be eliminated. Israel’s defense establishment will pursue Hamas terrorists – both the planners and the perpetrators of the 07.10 massacre. We will not rest until this mission is accomplished,” Gallant added.

Related Analysis

“After Eliminating Ismail Haniyeh, Israel’s Hunt for Hamas Leaders Continues,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Kills Most Senior Hezbollah Military Commander in Retaliatory Strike,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Troops Complete Successful Operation in Gaza’s Khan Younis,” FDD Flash Brief