Editing Mohammed Deif (section)

=== 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" />