Israeli Airstrike Targets Hamas Military Chief Mohammed Deif In Gaza, 71 Palestinians Killed

An Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif in Gaza resulted in at least 71 Palestinian casualties. It remains uncertain whether Deif was among those killed.

An Israeli airstrike on Saturday targeted Hamas' military chief Mohammed Deif in Gaza, resulting in at least 71 Palestinian casualties, according to a security official and Israel Army Radio. The enclave's health ministry reported that the strike left 71 Palestinians dead and 289 injured. 

It remains uncertain whether Deif, who was purportedly hiding in a building in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, was among those killed, news agency Reuters reported. Israel Army Radio reported that Deif was in the area at the time of the attack, according to Reuters' report.

Deif is considered one of the masterminds behind Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He has evaded seven previous Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent being in 2021, and has been at the top of Israel's most-wanted list for decades.

Hamas Media Office Claims Gaza Airstrike Resulted In At Least 100 Fatalities, Official Says All Dead Are 'Civilians'

The Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant held special consultations in response to the developments in Gaza. His office stated that these meetings were prompted by the recent attack, but it remains unclear how this strike will impact the ceasefire negotiations currently underway in Doha and Cairo.

The Hamas-run media office reported that the airstrike resulted in at least 100 casualties, including members of the Civil Emergency Service. In response, the Israeli military announced it was investigating these claims, the report stated.

A senior Hamas official, Abu Zuhri, did not confirm whether Deif was present during the strike, dismissing the Israeli claims as "nonsense." According to Reuters, he remarked, "All the martyrs are civilians and what happened was a grave escalation of the war of genocide, backed by American support and world silence," adding that the strike indicated Israel's disinterest in reaching a ceasefire agreement.