Overview
Mohammed Deif was the leader of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. He had been on Israel’s “most wanted” list for more than 20 years. Deif’s mentor was Yehya Ayyash, “the engineer” renowned for building Hamas bombs and other weaponry.“Profile: Hamas Commander Mohammed Deif,” BBC News, September 26, 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2284055.stm. Israel had attempted to kill Deif on multiple occasions, but he had escaped each time.Judah Ari Gross, “IDF twice tried, failed to kill Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif last week,” Times of Israel, May 19, 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-twice-tried-failed-to-killed-hamas-military-chief-muhammad-deif-last-week/. On August 1, 2024, Israel confirmed that Deif died in a July 13 Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, “Israel says it has confirmed that chief of Hamas’ military wing was killed in a July strike in Gaza,” Associated Press, August 1, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-mohammed-deif-9524d7d5c8f7321f4d8c931fde664556.
Deif was born as Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri.“Profile: Hamas Commander Mohammed Deif,” BBC News, September 26, 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2284055.stm. According to the Qassam Brigades’ website, he chose the name “Deif” because it means “guest”—an appropriate title for a man who moves “from village to village and from place to place” under the constant lookout of Israeli security forces.Jethro Mullen and Brian Todd, “Gaza Crisis: Who’s Who in Hamas,” CNN, July 31, 2014, http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/world/meast/hamas-leaders-whos-who/.
Israeli authorities credited Deif with masterminding the Qassam Brigades’ rocket-launching techniques, as well as their suicide bus bombings, soldier kidnappings, and tunnel-digging techniques. Sudarsan Raghavan, “Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing,” Washington Post, August 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/mohammed-deif-the-shadowy-figure-who-heads-hamass-military-wing/2014/08/02/ed68c46e-1a85-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html. Many viewed Deif as a major obstacle to peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. During the Gaza-Israel war in the summer of 2014, Deif was responsible for launching attacks during humanitarian ceasefires.Sudarsan Raghavan, “Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing,” Washington Post, August 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/mohammed-deif-the-shadowy-figure-who-heads-hamass-military-wing/2014/08/02/ed68c46e-1a85-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html. According to retired General Giora Eiland of the Israel Defense Forces, Deif was “against the cease-fire because he believes every day they continue to fight is another achievement for them.”Sudarsan Raghavan, “Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing,” Washington Post, August 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/mohammed-deif-the-shadowy-figure-who-heads-hamass-military-wing/2014/08/02/ed68c46e-1a85-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html.
According to a 2014 assessment by Imad Falouji, a former senior Hamas leader, Deif was “very quiet. He keeps a low profile and lives hidden among the population. He moves with different passports and different identities…. He’s successful until now because the circle around him is very small. That is why he is still alive.” Sudarsan Raghavan, “Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing,” Washington Post, August 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/mohammed-deif-the-shadowy-figure-who-heads-hamass-military-wing/2014/08/02/ed68c46e-1a85-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html. Ehud Yaari, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, agreed: “Deif has been in a position of power the entire time,” he said. “Some may not have noticed it because he has been hiding in the shadows.”Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mayaan Lubell, “Has Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif, escaped death again?” Reuters, August 20, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/20/us-mideast-gaza-deif-idUSKBN0GK1OW20140820.
Deif had been the target of Israeli airstrikes on numerous occasions, and had escaped each time, although not unharmed. He was partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, with only one arm and one eye. Sudarsan Raghavan, “Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas’s military wing,” Washington Post, August 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/mohammed-deif-the-shadowy-figure-who-heads-hamass-military-wing/2014/08/02/ed68c46e-1a85-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html. An Israeli targeted airstrike against Deif in the summer of 2014 resulted in the death of Deif’s wife and their two children.Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mayaan Lubell, “Has Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif, escaped death again?” Reuters, August 20, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/20/us-mideast-gaza-deif-idUSKBN0GK1OW20140820.
In early May 2021, Israel’s supreme court was deliberating a decision on the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in a legal dispute over land rights and rent payments.Tzvi Joffre, “Jerusalem Day festivities shaken by rockets, violent riots,” Jerusalem Post, May 10, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/jerusalem-day-riots-break-out-on-temple-mount-667735; Aaron Boxerman, “Supreme Court delays session on Sheikh Jarrah evictions amid Jerusalem violence,” Times of Israel, May 9, 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/supreme-court-delays-session-on-sheikh-jarrah-evictions-amid-jerusalem-tensions/. On May 4, Deif issued his first public statement in over seven years. Deif stated that he was sending a “clear, final warning” that Israel would pay a “heavy price” at the hands of Hamas if Israel evicts Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.Fares Akram, “Shadowy Hamas commander warns Israel over Jerusalem,” Reuters, May 5, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-jerusalem-middle-east-bc7ea9ca8e503e45f711c5c6ed8fb124. As Palestinian protested the expected decision on May 10, Hamas launched 150 rockets from Gaza toward Israeli border communities. Hamas demanded Israel remove its forces from both the Temple Mount and the Sheikh Jarah neighborhood and set a deadline of that evening.Felicia Schwartz and Dov Lieber, “Israel Strikes Hamas Targets After Rockets Fired at Jerusalem,” Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2021, https://www.wsj.com/articles/israeli-military-says-rockets-fired-from-gaza-toward-jerusalem-11620646448; Nidal Al-mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller, “Israel airstrikes kill 20 in Gaza, Palestinians say, after militants fire rockets at Jerusalem,” Reuters, May 10, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-airstrikes-kill-20-gaza-palestinians-say-after-militants-fire-rockets-2021-05-10/.
In response to the rocket attacks, Israel launched a widescale military mobilization against Gaza called Operation Guardian of the Walls. Israel struck Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets throughout Gaza while Hamas fired more than 4,000 rockets toward Israel as the conflict continued into its second week.Anna Ahronheim, “Rocket fire continues despite talk of an imminent ceasefire,” Jerusalem Post, May 20, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/rocket-strikes-ashkelon-house-leaving-26-year-old-with-light-injuries-668657. Israel attempted to kill Deif at least twice during the first two weeks of the conflict, but he escaped both attempts.Judah Ari Gross, “IDF twice tried, failed to kill Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif last week,” Times of Israel, May 19, 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-twice-tried-failed-to-killed-hamas-military-chief-muhammad-deif-last-week/. On May 20, 2021, Ismail Ghaani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, wrote to Deif to praise Hamas’s actions while referring to Deif as a “living martyr.”Seth J. Frantzman, “IRGC head praises Hamas commander Deif as ‘living martyr’ – analysis,” Jerusalem Post, May 20, 2021, https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/irgc-head-praises-hamas-commander-deif-as-living-martyr-analysis-668656.
Hamas and Israel declared a ceasefire on May 21, 2021, after 11 days of fighting. On May 22, Hamas held a military parade in Gaza City to celebrate its perceived victory. A senior Hamas commander told Israeli media a new round of fighting would begin if Israel targeted either Deif or Hamas’s Gaza political leader, Yahya Sinwar.Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, “Hamas defiant with military parade, appearance of top leader,” Associated Press, May 22, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-middle-east-health-coronavirus-pandemic-6ea82ef3966ccd0cee3dce815730d130; “Hamas’s Sinwar emerges to claim victory; group warns against hits on leaders,” Times of Israel, May 22, 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamass-sinwar-emerges-to-claim-victory-group-warns-against-hits-on-leaders/.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets toward Israel, while Hamas fighters cross into Israel from Gaza via motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and speed boats in an unprecedented assault by the terror group during the Jewish Sabbath and holiday of Shemini Atzeret. Hamas had launched at least 3,500 rockets toward Israel by the end of the day. Hamas killed at least 1,200 people and captured approximately 240 civilian and military hostages.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; “Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to ‘around 1,200,’” Reuters, November 10, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/. Deif called for all-out war on Israel and urged Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank to join in the fighting. He labeled Hamas’s attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm,” calling it a response to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, and violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; Seth J. Frantzman, “Hamas terror commander Deif calls for all out war on Israel,” Jerusalem Post, October 7, 2023, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-762052. Israel’s military leaders named Sinwar, Deif, and deputy military leader Marwan Issa as their most-wanted in Gaza, warning all three were on a kill list. Israel accused the three of forming a military council that planned and executed the October 7 attack. “Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie and Phil Stewart, “Insight: Israel’s most wanted: the three Hamas leaders in Gaza it aims to kill,” Reuters, December 1, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-most-wanted-three-hamas-commanders-gaza-it-must-kill-2023-12-01/.
In December 2023, Israeli media reported Deif and Sinwar were hiding in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.“Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar fled northern Gaza in IDF humanitarian convoy,” Jerusalem Post, last updated December 10, 2023, https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-777371. By December 10, Israeli forces were focusing on the areas of Jabaliya and Shajaiye in northern Gaza, as well as Khan Younis. Israel had taken control of the area surrounding Hamas’s former headquarters in Gaza City. Tzahi Hanegbi, director of Israel’s national security council, rejected suggestions that Gaza’s Hamas leaders could be sent into exile, like Yasser Arafat and the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization were exiled from Lebanon in the 1980s. “Israel says it will continue to search for Hamas’s leader.,” New York Times, December 11, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/12/11/world/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news/israel-says-it-will-continue-to-search-for-hamass-leader?smid=url-share. The European Union added Deif to its list of designated terrorists on December 8. The European Union also added Issa.“Fight against terrorism: Council adds two individuals to the EU terrorist list in response to the 7 October attacks,” European Council – Council of the European Union, December 8, 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/08/fight-against-terrorism-council-adds-two-individuals-to-the-eu-terrorist-list-in-response-to-the-7-october-attacks/.
Over the weekend of March 9-10, 2024, Israeli warplanes killed Issa in a building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Issa represented the highest-level Hamas death since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in October 2023. According to Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, the United States would help Israel locate other Hamas leaders and “justice will come for them too.”Adam Rasgon, “Israel Says It Targeted Marwan Issa, a Top Hamas Leader in Gaza,” New York Times, March 11, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/world/middleeast/israel-strike-marwan-issa-hamas.html; Ellen Mitchell, “Top Hamas commander killed in Israeli airstrike: White House,” Hill, March 18, 2024, https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4539947-top-hamas-commander-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-white-house/. Sullivan claimed Hamas’s Gaza leadership likely remained in hiding in Gaza’s underground tunnel network.Ellen Mitchell, “Top Hamas commander killed in Israeli airstrike: White House,” Hill, March 18, 2024, https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4539947-top-hamas-commander-killed-in-israeli-airstrike-white-house/.
On July 13, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted Deif and Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, in the Gaza Strip. Israel could not immediately confirm Deif had died in the strike. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, the strike killed 90 civilians and wounded 300 others. According to Israeli sources, the target had been a Hamas military compound in an open area where “terrorists hid among civilians.” Nidal Al-Mughrabi , Hatem Khaled and Maayan Lubell, “Gaza officials say 90 Palestinians killed as Israel targets Hamas military chief,” Reuters, July 13, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dozens-palestinians-killed-or-wounded-israeli-attack-khan-younis-hamas-says-2024-07-13/. Hamas accused Israel of targeting civilians and denied Deif had died in the strike. The Israeli government acknowledged that it could not confirm Deif’s death. Nidal Al-Mughrabi , Hatem Khaled and Maayan Lubell, “Gaza officials say 90 Palestinians killed as Israel targets Hamas military chief,” Reuters, July 13, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dozens-palestinians-killed-or-wounded-israeli-attack-khan-younis-hamas-says-2024-07-13/ While IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi acknowledged that the outcome of the strike remained unclear, he accused Hamas of trying to cover up the results of the strike.Emanuel Fabian, “IDF chief says Hamas is ‘trying to hide’ outcome of strike on Muhammed Deif,” Times of Israel, July 14, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-chief-says-hamas-is-trying-to-hide-outcome-of-strike-on-muhammed-deif/. In the week following the strike, Israel confirmed Salama’s death. The IDF also released recorded phone conversations of Gazans praising Deif’s death, though it remained unconfirmed. In the recordings, Gazans also wished for the death of Sinwar. According to media reports, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew confirmed “indications” of Deif’s death.“IDF releases tape of Gazans lauding death of Mohammed Deif,” Jewish News Syndicate, July 19, 2024, https://www.jns.org/idf-releases-tape-of-gazans-lauding-death-of-mohammed-deif/. On July 21, the IDF’s spokesperson for Arabic media, Colonel Avichay Adraee, said that all intelligence indicates Deif died in the strike.Yoav Zitun and Einav Halabi, “More indications Deif dead, IDF Arabic Spokesperson says,” Ynet News, July 21, 2024, https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjjp0q900c. On August 1, the IDF confirmed Deif’s death in the July 13 airstrike.Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, “Israel says it has confirmed that chief of Hamas’ military wing was killed in a July strike in Gaza,” Associated Press, August 1, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-mohammed-deif-9524d7d5c8f7321f4d8c931fde664556.
On February 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an indictment charging Deif and five other senior Hamas leaders with terrorism charges related to October 7. According to the indictment, the six leaders played central roles in planning, supporting, and perpetrating Hamas’s terrorist atrocities of October 7. In addition to Deif, the indictment charged Sinwar, Issa, Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Meshaal, and Ali Baraka. The complaint specifically charged the six with conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death, and conspiracy to support terrorism resulting in death. The complaint cited Hamas terrorist acts dating back to 1996. According to the Justice Department, the indictment was kept under seal to prevent Haniyeh and others from going into hiding. The Justice Department unsealed the indictment on September 3, 2024, after determining there was no longer sufficient reason to keep the indictment sealed after Haniyeh’s death that July.“Justice Department Announces Terrorism Charges Against Senior Leaders of Hamas,” U.S. Department of Justice, September 3, 2024, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-terrorism-charges-against-senior-leaders-hamas.
On November 21, 2024, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Deif, as well as for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC accuses Deif of crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence. According to the ICC, there are “reasonable grounds” Deif, Netanyahu, and Gallant bear “criminal responsibility” for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas after Hamas’s October 7 attack.David Gritten, “Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes,” BBC News, November 21, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2exvx944o: “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant,” International Criminal Court, November 21, 2024, https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-rejects-state-israels-challenges; “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issues warrant of arrest for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif),” November 21, 2024, https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-issues-warrant-arrest-mohammed-diab-ibrahim. According to the ICC prosecution, the court is “not in a position to determine” whether Deif is dead or alive.David Gritten, “Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes,” BBC News, November 21, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2exvx944o: “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant,” International Criminal Court, November 21, 2024, https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-rejects-state-israels-challenges; “Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issues warrant of arrest for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif),” November 21, 2024, https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-issues-warrant-arrest-mohammed-diab-ibrahim.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hamas
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Political, religious, social service provider, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group, pan-Islamist, Qutbist, Sunni
- Position(s):
- Chief of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (deceased)
Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization which has killed hundreds of Israeli citizens, as well as Americans, in suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks. Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since it violently expelled the Palestinian Authority in 2007.
History
United States
The U.S. Department of State designated “Muhammed Deif” a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on September 8, 2015.“Terrorist Designations of Yahya Sinwar, Rawhi Mushtaha, and Muhammed Deif,” U.S. Department of State, September 8, 2015, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/246686.htm.
Israel
Listed on Israel’s “most wanted” list in 1995.Amos Harel, “Who Is Mohammed Deif?” Haaretz, April 10, 2018, https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-who-is-mohammed-deif-1.5260209.
European Union
The European Union added Mohammed Deif to its terrorism list on December 8, 2023.“Fight against terrorism: Council adds two individuals to the EU terrorist list in response to the 7 October attacks,” European Council – Council of the European Union, December 8, 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/08/fight-against-terrorism-council-adds-two-individuals-to-the-eu-terrorist-list-in-response-to-the-7-october-attacks/.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.