Editing Mohammed Deif (section)

==Assassination==
{{Main|13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack}}
[[File:Targetted-Killing-of-Muhammad-Deif.gif|thumb|An [[animated GIF]] of the airstrike released by the IDF]]
On 13 July 2024, he was targeted in [[13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack|an Israeli strike in the al-Mawasi neighborhood of Khan Yunis]] in the southern Gaza Strip. According to reports from the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 90 Palestinians were killed and over 300 injured as a result of the attack.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=זיתון |first1=יואב |last2=חלבי |first2=עינב |last3=יהושוע |first3=יוסי |date=13 July 2024 |title=ניסיון לחסל את מוחמד דף: יותר מ-50 הרוגים בתקיפה בחאן יונס |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rjf11l6kor |access-date=13 July 2024 |work=Ynet |language=he |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803165116/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rjf11l6kor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Altstein |first1=Galit |last2=Alghoul |first2=Fares |title=Israel Targets Senior Hamas Commanders; Dozens Killed in Attack |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-13/dozens-killed-in-israeli-attempt-to-take-down-top-hamas-leader-chief?srnd=homepage-americas |access-date=13 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=13 July 2024 |language=en |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803165117/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-13/dozens-killed-in-israeli-attempt-to-take-down-top-hamas-leader-chief?srnd=homepage-americas |url-status=live }}</ref> The IDF reported that one of Deif's associates and a mastermind of the 7 October attack, the Khan Yunis Brigade commander [[Rafa Salama]], was among the dead.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-810203|title=IDF confirms Khan Yunis Brigade commander Rafa'a Salameh killed in targeted strike|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 July 2024|access-date=22 July 2024|archive-date=23 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723062249/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-810203|url-status=live}}</ref> In relation to Deif, the IDF stated that there were signs that he too had been killed, but they were unable to officially confirm that.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli military says more indications showing Mohammed Deif killed |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-military-says-more-indications-show-mohammed-deif-killed |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=The New Arab |date=25 July 2024 |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722201636/https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-military-says-more-indications-show-mohammed-deif-killed |url-status=live }}</ref> Reportedly, a dead body suspected to belong to Deif was recovered from the site but was too badly disfigured to be identified.<ref name="Deif killed"/> On 1 August 2024, the IDF announced it had confirmed that Deif died in the 13 July strike.<ref name="timesofisrael20240801">{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-confirms-muhammad-deif-commander-of-hamass-military-wing-was-killed-in-gaza-strike-last-month/|title=IDF confirms Muhammad Deif, commander of Hamas's military wing, was killed in Gaza strike last month|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|accessdate=1 August 2024|archive-date=1 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801084016/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-confirms-muhammad-deif-commander-of-hamass-military-wing-was-killed-in-gaza-strike-last-month/|url-status=live}}</ref> Two weeks after the IDF announced its confirmation, Hamas denied that Deif was killed, with senior Hamas official [[Osama Hamdan]] stating in an interview with the [[Associated Press]] that Deif was still alive.<ref name="Hamas denial Aug 16 2024">{{Cite web |title=Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif is alive, says senior official |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/mohammed-deif-hamas-military-chief-alive-says-official |access-date=16 August 2024 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2024, Hamas again called Deif's death a lie, while issuing a statement denying [[Killing of Yahya Sinwar|the death of Yahya Sinwar]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2024 |title='He's still alive' vs. 'died courageously': The battle for Sinwar's death narrative begins |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-825069 |access-date=18 October 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> The next day Hamas acknowledged Sinwar's death without making any additional comments about Deif's status.<ref name="jpost-until-aggression-stops">{{Cite web |date=18 October 2024 |title=Hostages will not return until Gaza 'aggression' stops, Hamas official says |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-825116 |access-date=18 October 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In early November, the London-based Saudi newspaper ''[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]'' reported that Hamas has privately acknowledged Deif's death, but Hamas released a statement denying the newspaper's report.<ref name="Deif killed">{{cite news|url=https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5077358-new-evidence-suggests-death-qassam-brigades-leader|title=New Evidence Suggests Death of Qassam Brigades Leader|date=2 November 2024|publisher=[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hamas denies martyrdom of its military leader Mohammed Deif|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/03/hamas-denies-martyrdom-of-its-military-leader-mohammed-deif|date=3 November 2024|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]}}</ref>

On November 21, 2024 [[International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders|the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif]], arguing that it was unable to determine whether Deif had been killed and that the warrant would be withdrawn upon confirmation of his death.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vinograd |first=Cassandra |date=21 November 2024 |title=I.C.C. Prosecutor Sought Warrants for 3 Hamas Leaders. At Least 2 Are Now Dead. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/world/middleeast/hamas-leaders-icc-arrest-warrant.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="AJ ICC warrant" /> About a month after Hamas confirmed Deif's death, the International Criminal Court cancelled the arrest warrant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-844016|title=ICC cancels arrest warrant for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif|publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]| date= February 27, 2025| first= Ariela| last= Ohrenstein}}</ref>

On December 4, 2024, Israeli news channel [[Kan 11]], citing Palestinian sources, reported that Hamas had located Deif's body and buried it in secret. According to the report, Hamas maintained secrecy over Deif's death due to fears that confirming it would lower the morale of its fighters, and buried him in an undisclosed location due to fears that if Israel discovered the location of his grave, the IDF would dig it up and take his body to use as a bargaining chip in a hostage deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-832030| title= Hamas secretly buried Muhammad Deif's body in Gaza after killed in Israeli airstrike - report| date=December 4, 2024| publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref>

On January 30, 2025, the Qassam Brigades, through their spokesperson [[Abu Ubaida (Hamas)|Abu Ubeida]], confirmed that Mohammed Deif, along with six other senior Hamas commanders, died as a result of the [[Gaza war]]. Along with the confirmation, Hamas also officially released a photo of Deif for the first time, as his photo had previously been classified.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Truzman |first=Joe |date=2025-01-30 |title=Hamas confirms the death of Mohammad Deif and other senior leaders |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/01/hamas-confirms-the-death-of-muhammad-deif-and-other-senior-leaders.php |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=[[FDD's Long War Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref>