A big Israeli airstrike in Gaza Saturday centered the Hamas commander regarded as the mastermind of the horrific Oct. 7 assaults that left 1,200 Israelis lifeless and caused the warfare.
Israel Protection Forces shot rockets at a fenced-off compound the place Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas’s army wing, and Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, had been holed up, consistent with more than one reviews.
Hamas chief Muhammad Deif used to be centered within the air strike. IDF by means of Telegram
A Palestinian girl reacts over the corpse of a circle of relatives member in entrance of the morgue of the Nasser Health facility in Khan Yunis on July 13, 2024. AFP by means of Getty Pictures
The army used to be nonetheless looking forward to intelligence to verify whether or not Dief, chief of the crowd’s infamous Qassam Brigades, and Salameh had been killed within the strike. The Saudi information channel al-Hadath reported that Dief used to be significantly injured and Salameh used to be killed, consistent with the Instances of Israel, however their fates weren’t but formally made up our minds.
Dief is extensively considered as Hamas’ second-in-command in Gaza at the back of the splendid terror boss Yahya Sinwar. Lengthy sought via the Israeli army, his demise may just derail cease-fire talks, however would even be noticed as a big victory for Israel.
Witnesses stated the strike landed inside of an Israeli-designated protected zone that stretches from northern Rafah to Khan Younis. The IDF stated the development the strike centered is in a civilian space however used to be no longer a part of a camp for displaced Palestinians. The IDF, which launched before-and-after pictures of the web site that confirmed a fenced-off space, stated no Israeli hostages had been held on the location.
“The realm that used to be struck is an open and forested space, with a number of structures and sheds,” the army stated. The photographs display earlier than and after the strike.
In a commentary, Hamas denied that Deif were centered within the strike.
Deif’s demise may just derail cease-fire talks however could be noticed as a big victory for Israel. REUTERS
Unverified reviews from the Hamas-run well being ministry in Gaza stated no less than 71 Palestinians had been killed and 289 injured within the strike. Hamas figures don’t distinguish between civilian and terrorist casualties and the crowd is understood to cover top worth objectives in densely populated spaces.
“Israel centered October 7 mastermind Muhammed Deif, head of the Hamas army wing,” stated Eylon Levy, a former govt spokesman on X Saturday. “If he used to be hiding amongst civilians in a makeshift camp, that displays how made up our minds Hamas is to make use of civilians as human shields and sacrifices.”
Movies circulating on X confirmed Israelis breaking into birthday party when information of the strike used to be introduced.
Lengthy earlier than the present warfare, Deif used to be sought after via the Israeli army and become notorious for his skill to elude seize or assassination. In December, Israel positioned a $100,000 bounty on his head, the Instances of Israel reported.
The strike comes as U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators proceed to paintings to slender the gap between Israel and Hamas over a proposed deal for a three-phase cease-fire and hostage unencumber plan in Gaza.
With Put up Wires
