Hamas Confirms Death of Military Leader Mohammed Deif Following Israeli Airstrike

Hamas leadership confirmed that its military leader Mohammed Deif died after Israeli aircraft targeted him. Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif died alongside various top-ranking Hamas officials because of an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis Gaza. Israel previously announced his death in August 2023 when intelligence showed he had become a target. The airstrike eliminated multiple military leaders of Hamas apart from killing its leader Mohammed Deif. Israeli airstrikes have taken the life of Hamas leader Mohammed Deif as the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies through the major Hamas attack against Israel in October 2023. 

About the Death of Mohammed Deif

• The Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida formally verified through a video statement that the military leader Deif met his fate together with other senior Hamas military officials. 

• Deif encountered his demise during a July 13 Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis according to an Israeli announcement made in August 2023. Receiving fresh intelligence led the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to confirm the death of this individual.

• The Israeli military conducted an airstrike against Rafa’a Salameh’s compound located in Khan Younis because Deif was present at the location during that time.

About Hamas

• Nature: The largest Palestinian militant Islamist group and one of the two major political parties in the region.

• Governance: Governs over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

• Formation: Early formation occurred in 1988 when Palestinians launched a revolt against Israel during its administration of the West Bank and Gaza territories.

• Designation: Considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Background of the Conflict

• Hamas conducted its most significant assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, when they murdered 1,200 civilians alongside taking 200 hostages.

• Israel launched a massive counterattack against Hamas fighters during its offensive in Gaza and Palestinian casualties exceeded 46,000.

Israeli-Palestinian Prisoner Exchange

A different Israeli move came through when they allowed 110 Palestinian prisoners to go free following safety promises from ceasefire negotiators. The security operations were part of ongoing strategies to free all captured hostages maintained by Hamas including both Israeli and Thai hostages.

Israel previously delayed prisoner exchanges because the leadership wanted promises regarding safe transportation for future hostage exchanges to protect the prisoners during upcoming transfers.

Reason of the Israel-Palestine conflict

• The main issue started from the territorial dispute over Palestine, particularly Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. 

• Since 2007, Israel has blocked the Gaza Strip which hinders the movement of people, and goods causing economic and humanitarian issues in Gaza.

• Hamas's continuous rocket attacks on Israel territory cause major security threats and military operations of Israel in its respond

• Border conflicts to take control over religious places like Jerusalem, especially al-Aqsa mosque.

• Political rivalry between Hamas and Fatah causes internal conflict in Palestine, Gaza is under the control of Hamas while Fatah controls the West Bank region.

India and its support for Palestine

• India recently voted in favor of Palestine in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine”. The resolution calls for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian area occupied by them since 1967, including East Jerusalem. 

Conclusion

Israeli air forces delivered a fatal blow to Hamas leader Mohammed Deif marking a strategic point in the present conflict. Hamas stands weaker following the demise of Mohammed Deif because the organization lost its most prominent military commander through the fatal airstrike. The larger ongoing conflict continues to generate catastrophic damage to the people on both sides. Both Israeli retaliatory campaigns and large-scale military strikes alongside prisoner exchanges show mounting hostility while highlighting the severe losses of civilian lives which have killed tens of thousands.