A Palestinian Hamas militant stands guard, on the day of the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Cairo: Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, on Thursday confirmed the killing of its military leader Mohammed Deif and deputy military commander Marwan Issa in combat.
In August, the Israeli military announced it had killed Deif in an airstrike in Gaza's Khan Younis area.
Deif and Issa, who Israel also announced it killed in March, were believed to have masterminded Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.
Deif was an elusive figure who had a long and secretive career in the Palestinian group and had been sought by Israel for decades.
Al-Qassam Brigades also announced the death of other three senior members of its general military council, the group's spokesperson Abu Ubaida said in a recorded speech.