The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced on Thursday that its military chief, Mohammed Deif, and deputy chief of staff, Marwan Issa, were killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
The confirmation came from Abu Obeida, the group’s spokesperson, who vowed that their legacy and the Palestinian resistance would continue despite the losses.
In a statement reported by Xinhua News Agency, Obeida confirmed the deaths of Deif and Issa, describing them as “two of our great leaders.” He emphasized that their assassination would not halt the Palestinian resistance against Israel. No further details about the circumstances of their deaths were provided.
Background on Mohammed Deif
Mohammed Deif, one of Hamas’s most prominent figures, was widely regarded as the second-in-command in Gaza, behind Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in the territory, who was also killed by Israeli forces last year. Israel accused Deif of being a mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages.
Israel’s military had previously claimed to have killed Deif in an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on August 1, 2024. However, Hamas had not confirmed his death until now. Deif was known for his role in designing Hamas’s Qassam rockets and overseeing the construction of tunnels used by fighters to infiltrate Israel.
Marwan Issa’s Role and Death
Marwan Issa, Al-Qassam’s deputy chief of staff, was also confirmed dead. The United States had announced his death in March 2023, describing him as one of Israel’s most-wanted individuals. The European Union had placed Issa on its terrorist blacklist, linking him directly to the October 7 attacks.
International Criminal Court’s Involvement
In May 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it was seeking arrest warrants for Deif and other senior Hamas figures, citing “reasonable grounds” to believe they were responsible for the October 7 attacks.
The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, has resulted in significant casualties. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israel’s 15-month military offensive has killed more than 47,460 Palestinians in the territory.
Read: How Israeli Forces Located Al-Qassam Brigades Commander Mohammed Deif
A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect on January 19, 2024, leading to the release of 15 Israeli hostages and 400 Palestinian prisoners. Most of the released prisoners returned to the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, while about 70 individuals convicted of serious offences were deported.
