Middle East & Africa | The Middle East

Israel bombs the Hamas military mastermind behind the October 7th attack

If he is dead it could hasten the end of the Gaza war

Photograph: AFP
|JERUSALEM

AT LEAST SEVEN times Israel tried to assassinate Muhammad Deif, and failed. On the morning of July 13th, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) believe they finally tracked down the overall commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Their target was thought to be holed-up in a small compound west of Khan Younis, the second-largest city in Gaza. Fighter jets dropping 900kg (2,000lb) bombs obliterated the compound and all in it.

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