Mohammed Deif is the leader of the military wing of Hamas, which is behind the bloody terrorist attacks on Israel. The Israeli army is now hunting a phantom that is said to have only one eye and one arm – and gives orders verbally or on paper.
There is only this one picture of Mohammed Deif’s face. It is over 20 years old and comes from the Palestinian police. At this point, Deif was already considered one of the most wanted Hamas members in Israel. In October 2023, the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip announced by Israel will also serve to search for Deif. The man who is said to be behind the bloodbath in Israel about a week ago and is Israel’s public enemy number one.
Deif is the leader of the Qassam Brigades, the military branch of Hamas. As early as the 1990s, when he gradually rose through the ranks of Hamas, he is said to have coordinated suicide attacks by the terrorist organization. In 2002, he became leader of the Qassam Brigades after his predecessor, Saleh Shehada, was killed in an Israeli bombing raid.
Mohammed Deif: the most wanted man in Israel
Since then, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, his full name, has been at the top of the most wanted Hamas members in Israel. Under his leadership, the large-scale tunnel system is said to have been created, which is located under the Gaza Strip and is used by Hamas to smuggle goods and weapons, but also for protected movement during attacks by Israel. As the head of the military arm, he is also said to have planned suicide attacks and the construction of rockets as well as subsequent rocket attacks – and was also behind the terrorist attack on Israel last weekend, in which 1,400 people died. Deif is said to have planned the attacks together with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and he is considered to be the main person responsible, a source close to Hamas told the Reuters news agency: “There are two people behind the operation, but only one mastermind.”
When Hamas’ own TV station announced on Saturday last week that Deif would comment on the bloodbath, many in the Middle East knew that things would be different this time. Because Deif never appears in public, and according to rumors, he doesn’t even have a cell phone so as not to leave any traces. He should only give orders orally or on pieces of paper; his messages are only transmitted as audio files. Deif was also not visible when it was broadcast on television; a shadow of a man who was supposed to be Deif was shown.
But the message that Deif conveyed was clear to hear. He announced the start of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” a reference to one of the most important Muslim shrines located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. When Israeli security forces entered the mosque in Ramadan 2021, Deif made the decision to plan the operation, reports Reuters. “”Today the anger of Al Aqsa, the anger of our people and our nation explodes. Our fighters, today is your day to make it clear to this criminal that his time is up,” Deif says in the recording.
Mohammed Deif survived seven assassination attempts
As little is known about Deif today, so much is known about his younger years. He was born in 1965 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the south of the Gaza Strip. Shortly after Hamas was founded, Deif joined the organization, but was arrested in Israel two years later for his activities with Hamas – and was released 16 months later. Deif studied physics, biology and chemistry at the Islamic University in Gaza, sponsored by Hamas, and is said to have appeared on stage in comedies in the theater.
The new conflict in the Middle East, sparked by a man that Israel cannot get to grips with. He has been at the top of the wanted list in Israel for years. Deif is said to have survived seven attacks, the last in 2021. Among other things, he is said to have escaped an assassination attempt by jumping out of a car shortly before a rocket hit. However, Deif did not survive the attempts to take his life completely unscathed. It is certain that he lost an eye. There are different reports about other injuries. Deif is said to have lost an arm, one or both legs or is in a wheelchair.
None of this information has been confirmed; Hamas never comments on Mohammed Deif’s health. This remains elusive for the Israelis. His nickname Deif is the Arabic word for “guest” and describes the Hamas leader quite accurately. Deif is said to rarely stay in one place for more than one night and always seeks out new hiding places with supporters of the organization. He escaped at least two attacks from Israel, but paid a high price for it. When the Israeli army bombed his home during the 2014 war, his wife and two children were killed – but Deif was not at home. Last week, his parents’ home was said to have been hit, killing his brother and two other family members – but not Deif.
A former Hamas leader confirmed to the Washington Post in 2014 that he can adapt to situations. “He lives inconspicuously and lives hidden among the population,” said Imad Falouji, who co-founded the Kassam Brigades and met Deif personally. Falouji justified the fact that he is still alive today with a very small circle of confidants that Deif has gathered around him. According to Reuters, the circle was said to be so small that even its ally Iran was not informed about the preparations and the secret services were unaware of the plans.
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
