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Mohammed Deif
محمّد ضيف
Born
Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri

1965 (age 58–59)
Khan Yunis, Egyptian controlled Gaza Strip
NationalityPalestinian
Other namesAbu Khaled
Years active2002–present
Known forSupreme Military Commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
SpouseWidad (2007–2014)[1]
Military career
Allegiance Hamas
Service / branchal-Qassam Brigades
RankChief of Staff

Mohammed Deif (Arabic: محمّد الضيف), born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri (Arabic: محمّد دياب إبراهيم المصري), is a Palestinian militant who is currently the Supreme Military Commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamist organization Hamas.

Deif has been on top of Israel's 'most wanted' list since 1995 for allegedly killing IDF soldiers and planning suicide bombings and kidnappings, and was added to the American list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists in 2015. He has survived nine Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent of which came during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis in May 2021.

Biography

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Early life

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Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri was born in 1965 in the Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip[2]. Although not much is known about the details of his early life and upbringing,[3] it is understood that he studied science the Islamic University of Gaza,[4] from which he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1988.[5]

During his years at the university, he had a passion for theatre, establishing a theatre group called "The Returners", in reference to Palestinian refugees longing to return to the lands they lived on before to the Nakba.[4][5]

Al-Qassam Brigades

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Deif joined Hamas shortly after its establishment during the First Intifada, and was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1989 or 1990 for his involvement with the organization.[3][6] After 16 months of detention, he was released, only to help establish the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, soon after.[5]

Deif was close to Emad Akel and Yahya Ayyash, who were assassinated by Israel in 1993 and 1996 respectively.[6][3] After the latter's assassination, he started to lower his profile, going off the radar to avoid being targeted.[4] During the 1990s, he was behind the kidnappings and later killings of Israeli soldiers Shahar Simani, Aryeh Frankenthal and Nachshon Wachsman.[7]

In May 2000, Deif was arrested by the Palestinian National Authority,[8][9] but escaped in December with assistance from some of his guards.[10]

Leader of the al-Qassam Brigades

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Deif became the supreme military commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades after Israel assassinated Salah Shehade in July 2002.[11] In February 2006, some Israeli media argued that Deif would build an Al Qaeda network in the Gaza Strip since he did not support the approach of Hamas. This claim, however, was denied by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[12]

Strategy

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Low profile

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Assassination attempts

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He has survived five Israeli air strikes, which caused him serious injuries and handicaps. Despite initial reports of his death in an Israeli air strike on 27 September 2002, an Israeli intelligence official confirmed that he survived the attack.[13] His senior assistant, Adnan al-Ghoul, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on 21 October 2004.[14]

In the early morning hours of 12 July 2006, an Israeli F16 aircraft bombed a house in which high-level ranking Hamas leaders were meeting. Deif survived the blast, but severely injured his spine.[15] After this event, Ahmed Jabari became the acting commander of Hamas military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades .[16]

On 19 August 2014, the Israeli air force conducted an airstrike on a house in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City[17] that killed one of Deif's wives (27-year-old Widad), and two of his children (7-month-old son Ali, and 3-year-old daughter Sara), and also three civilians.[18][19][20] Hamas denied that Deif was killed.[21][22][23]

In April 2015, it was reported in Israeli media citing intelligence sources that Deif survived the assassination attempt.[24]

During Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, it was reported that Israel military had tried to kill Deif twice in one week but that he got away at the last minute both times.[25]

Personal life

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References

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  1. ^ "Thousands mourn slain wife, baby of Hamas commander". GMA News Online. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  2. ^ Messing, Dafna (11 May 2021). "Who are you, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, aka Muhammed Deif?". Alma Research and Education Center. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Mohammed Deif: The one-eyed Hamas chief in Israel's crosshairs". BBC News. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Raghavan, Sudarsan (2 August 2014). "Mohammed Deif, the shadowy figure who heads Hamas's military wing". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Ziboun, Kifah (28 August 2014). "From the Spotlight to the Shadows". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Has Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif, escaped death again?". Reuters. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Who Is Mohammed Deif?". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Hamas Says Fugitive Seized in Raid". AP NEWS. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  9. ^ Hockstader, Lee (15 May 2000). "Terror Suspect Being Detained By Palestinians". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. ^ Hockstader, Lee (8 December 2000). "Key Militant Escapes From Palestinian Jail". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  11. ^ Asser, Martin (26 September 2002). "Profile: Hamas commander Mohammed Deif". BBC News. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Mohammad Deif – Head of the Armed Wing". IDF. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  13. ^ "Official: Hamas target survives Israeli attack". CNN. 27 September 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Israel raid kills Gaza Hamas man". 22 October 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Israel's Most Wanted Man Seriously Injured in Bombing". WLTX. Gaza City. AP. 12 July 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  16. ^ Chabin, Michele (14 November 2012). "Israelis brace for attacks after Hamas leader killed". USA Today. Jerusalem. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  17. ^ "Israeli airstrikes target Hamas military chief in Gaza: report". Xinhua. 20 August 2014. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014.
  18. ^ Kershner, Isabel; Akram, Fares (20 August 2014). "After Strike on Family, Fate of Hamas Commander is Unknown". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Levy, Elior (20 August 2014). "Hamas vows revenge for Deif's family". ynet. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Hamas Terror Chief's Daughter Killed in Strike Too - Middle East - News - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  21. ^ "Hamas Confirms: Mohammed Deif is Still Alive". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Gaza killing resumes with peace talks in tatters". CBS News. 20 August 2014.
  23. ^ "UPDATE 4-Gaza war rages on, Hamas says Israel tried to kill its military chief". Reuters. 20 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Hamas military commander Deif said to be alive in Gaza Strip". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Israel tried to kill Hamas chief Mohammed Deif twice in Gaza operation". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
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