Editing Mohammed Deif (section)

== Unsuccessful assassination attempts ==
The Israeli military and security forces have killed numerous members of Deif's family in failed attempts to kill Deif, who was on top of Israel's 'most wanted list' since 1995,<ref name="sky20231010" /><ref name=harel /> and other airstrikes. Deif's survival earned him the nickname 'the [[Cats have nine lives|cat with nine lives]]' among his Israeli adversaries.<ref name="washingtonpost20140802" /><ref>{{Cite web |website=ABP News Bureau |date=13 October 2023 |title=Israel-Gaza War: Who Is Mohammed Deif? The 'Shadowy' Hamas Leader Behind Israel Attack |url=https://news.abplive.com/explainers/israel-gaza-war-who-is-mohammed-deif-shadowy-hamas-militant-leader-behind-israel-attack-1635402 |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107213539/https://news.abplive.com/explainers/israel-gaza-war-who-is-mohammed-deif-shadowy-hamas-militant-leader-behind-israel-attack-1635402 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="france24-20231019" /> He survived at least seven Israeli assassination attempts.<ref name="bbc20210530" />

As of December 2023, Israeli military and security forces have killed Deif's brother, his nephew, his niece, his wife, his 3-year-old daughter, and his 7-month-old son.<ref name="reuters20231010" /><ref name="brother nephew niece" />

=== Early attempts (2001 to 2006) ===
The first attempt on his life was by an airstrike in 2001, before he assumed the leadership of the al-Qassam Brigades.<ref name="aawsat20231008" /><ref name="nytimes20140821">{{Cite news |last1=Kershner |first1=Isabel |last2=Akram |first2=Fares |date=20 August 2014 |title=After Strike on Family, Fate of Hamas Commander Is Unknown |language=en-US |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-strip.html |access-date=4 November 2023 |issn=0362-4331|archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515030321/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-strip.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2021 |title=Who is Mohammed Deif whom Israel tried to assassinate several times |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/who-is-mohammed-deif-whom-israel-tried-to-assassinate-several-times-9358771.htm |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=cnbctv18.com |language=en |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105022506/https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/who-is-mohammed-deif-whom-israel-tried-to-assassinate-several-times-9358771.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Israel tried again to kill Deif in September 2002 by a strike on his car.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 September 2002 |title=Official: Hamas target survives Israeli attack |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/09/27/mideast/index.html |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-date=4 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404030045/http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/09/27/mideast/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=miller>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Elhanan |title=Is prime Israel target Muhammad Deif overseeing Hamas's strategy? |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/is-prime-israel-target-muhammad-deif-overseeing-hamass-strategy/ |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=Times of Israel |date=23 July 2014 |language=en-US |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029170509/http://www.timesofisrael.com/is-prime-israel-target-muhammad-deif-overseeing-hamass-strategy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Video footage from that attempt show Deif covered in blood as a man drags him away.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2014 |title=Deep in Underground Tunnels, Mohammed Deif Shapes Hamas' War With Israel |first=Maayan |last=Lubel |url=https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/204141/deep-in-underground-tunnels-mohammed-deif-shapes-h/ |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=The Forward |language=en |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123040614/https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/204141/deep-in-underground-tunnels-mohammed-deif-shapes-h/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003 and in July 2006, Israel tried again by striking a house that hosted a meeting of the Hamas leadership.<ref name="aawsat20231008" /><ref name="nytimes20140821" /><ref name="wltx2">{{cite news |date=12 July 2006 |title=Israel's Most Wanted Man Seriously Injured in Bombing |newspaper=WLTX |agency=AP |location=Gaza City |url=http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=39802 |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918135325/http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=39802 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is also said that the July 2006 attempt was an airstrike on the house of one of Deif's lecturers in university when Deif was visiting him.<ref name="afr20231026" />

=== Impact on health ===
After the 2006 assassination attempt, Deif spent three months in Egypt for treatment of his skull after shrapnel lodged in it, and he continued to take daily tranquillizers to treat headaches.<ref name="afr20231026" /><ref name=miller />

It was believed that the seven assassination attempts had lost Deif an eye and limbs.<ref name="bbc20210530" /> Hamas did not confirm or deny these claims and did not comment on his health.<ref name="freepressjournal20231012" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Johny |first=Stanly |date=22 May 2021 |title=Who is Mohammed Deif, the Hamas chief |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/hammas-chief-mohammed-deif/article61814855.ece |access-date=19 November 2023 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119163522/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/hammas-chief-mohammed-deif/article61814855.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Footage obtained by the Israeli military in December 2023 showed Deif using both hands and walking on his own two feet, though with a slight limp and occasionally with the aid of a wheelchair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2023 |title=Video shows Hamas commander alive and well after 7 assassination attempts |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-778785 |access-date=25 December 2023 |website=The Jerusalem Post |first=Ben |last=Caspit |language=en-US |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225071326/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-778785 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=New intel said to disprove belief top Hamas commander Muhammad Deif is near-paralyzed |date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-intel-said-to-disprove-belief-top-hamas-commander-muhammad-deif-is-near-paralyzed/ |website=Times Of Israel |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225121438/https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-intel-said-to-disprove-belief-top-hamas-commander-muhammad-deif-is-near-paralyzed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2014 Gaza war ===
{{Main|Deif family killings}}
In August 2014, during the [[2014 Gaza War]], the Israeli air force attempted to assassinate him with an airstrike on the Deif family home in [[Sheikh Radwan]] in [[Gaza City]].<ref>{{cite news |date=20 August 2014 |title=Israeli airstrikes target Hamas military chief in Gaza: report |publisher=[[Xinhua]] |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/20/c_133571235.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820153329/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/20/c_133571235.htm |archive-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> Hamas denied that Deif was killed,<ref name="israelnationalnews.com2">{{cite web |title=Hamas Confirms: Mohammed Deif is Still Alive |date=20 August 2014 |first1=Ido |last1=Ben Porat |first2=Ari |last2=Soffer |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/184241#.U_TTyU3D-Uk |access-date=9 September 2015 |work=Arutz Sheva |archive-date=20 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820171413/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/184241#.U_TTyU3D-Uk |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 August 2014 |title=Gaza killing resumes with peace talks in tatters |publisher=[[CBS News]] |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gaza-war-israel-targets-hamas-commander-mohammed-deif/ |access-date=20 August 2014 |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205064259/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gaza-war-israel-targets-hamas-commander-mohammed-deif/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and his survival was confirmed by Israeli intelligence in 2015.<ref name="cnbctv18-20231011" /><ref>{{cite web |date=29 April 2015 |title=Hamas military commander Deif said to be alive in Gaza Strip |url=http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-believes-wanted-Hamas-commander-Deif-is-alive-in-Gaza-400525 |access-date=24 June 2024 |work=The Jerusalem Post |first1=Khaled |last1=Abu Toameh |first2=Yaakov |last2=Lappin |archive-date=1 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501103725/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-believes-wanted-Hamas-commander-Deif-is-alive-in-Gaza-400525 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Two failed attempts in one week (2021) ===
In May 2021, during the [[2021 Israel–Palestine crisis]], the Israel military tried to kill Deif twice in one week, but both attempts proved unsuccessful.<ref name="operation_20212">{{cite web |date=19 May 2021 |title=Israel tried to kill Hamas chief Mohammed Deif twice in Gaza operation |first=Anna |last=Ahronheim |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/israel-still-trying-to-eliminate-hamas-chief-mohammed-deif-in-gaza-668496 |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Jerusalem Post |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519044658/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/israel-still-trying-to-eliminate-hamas-chief-mohammed-deif-in-gaza-668496 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== October 2023 attack on father's house ===
In October 2023, during the [[Gaza war]], Deif's father's house was hit by an Israeli airstrike, killing Deif's brother, nephew, and niece.<ref name="reuters20231010" /><ref name="brother nephew niece" /> It was unclear whether or not the airstrike targeted Deif.<ref name="brother nephew niece" >{{Cite web |date=14 October 2023 |title=Israel kills two Hamas commanders as it vows to eliminate group |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2023/10/14/hamas-leaders-target-israel-strikes/ |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=The National |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203214805/https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2023/10/14/hamas-leaders-target-israel-strikes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>