Quds Shaheed: Hamas proudly reports martyrdom of its legendary military commander, Mohammed Deif

The chief of the al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, announced on Thursday that Marwan Issa, the deputy military commander, has been killed in action.

Reports indicate that the battle has claimed the lives of several key military commanders. Among the deceased are Ghazi Abu Tama’a, who served as the commander of weapons and combat services, Raed Thabet, the commander responsible for manpower and head of the supplies unit, and Rafeh Salama, the leader of the Khan Younis Brigade.

Ahmed al-Ghandour, the leader of the Northern Brigade, and Ayman Nofal, the commander of the Central Brigade, were among the prominent Hamas figures who have been reported killed in recent hostilities.

Mohammad ‘Abu Khaled’ Deif, renowned for evading capture, has reportedly survived no fewer than seven assassination attempts by Israeli forces. As a pivotal figure, he has been instrumental in planning and executing military operations targeting Israel.

Several media outlets had previously reported the death of Deif, but Thursday’s announcement marks the first official confirmation from Hamas regarding the senior leader’s passing.

In August 2024, Israeli authorities declared that Deif had been eliminated in an airstrike in July; however, his death has yet to be officially verified.

Abu Obeida stated that the announcement was made following the completion of essential procedures. This included addressing security concerns influenced by the conditions on the battlefield and the verification of all pertinent details.

He pointed out that the group had earlier reported the deaths of Ghandour and Nofal amid what it described as genocide by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Issa, the deputy of senior Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, played a crucial role in shaping the military strategies of the group. Meanwhile, Tama’a, who oversees the management of the organization’s arsenal in Gaza, formerly held the position of head of Hamas’s Central Camps Brigade.

Thabet was regarded as one of the ten highest-ranking military leaders within Hamas. Meanwhile, Salama was recognized for his strong connections with Deif and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who died in combat operations in Gaza in October.