I am writing about Mohammed Dief, commander of Hamas’s military wing, who was targeted in a very precise strike on Saturday morning, along with Khan Younis Brigade Commander Rafa’a Salama, who was Dief’s right-hand man. (Dief is on the left in the undated picture below.)
The targeted area was described as an open space surrounded by trees, with several buildings and sheds that served as an operational compound; the compound was near the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone adjacent to Khan Younis. There are few tunnels in that immediate area.
Announcements from Israel are cautious, stating that it may take some time until we have final confirmation of Dief’s death. There is, however, very good reason to believe that while he had survived seven earlier attempts on his life (he lost an eye in one), it is very likely that he is finished now.
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Our intelligence was stunning. This was a coordinated effort that involved the IDF Southern Command, the Israeli Air Force, IDF Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet (ISA). Israel Security Agency.
According to Ynet: “The Saudi network Al Hadath reported that Hamas is investigating a ‘major internal breach’ that preceded the strike.”
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1f8w11lu0#autoplay
Here we see Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar consulting:
It was determined, first, that Dief was hiding in the area of that compound. He, Salama, and a number of other terrorists had been relocated several times in recent weeks to avoid detection, before being brought to the compound outside Al-Mawasi – which had been set up by the IDF so that civilians might move out of Rafah during operations there. As it was a non-military area close to a humanitarian zone, the assumption by Hamas was that it would be a secure location.
In the end, however, Dief was over-confident. I’m reading that this was typical of him: he was very different from Yahya Sinwar, who is often described as a coward. (Yes, I’m using the past tense regarding Dief, although this is not yet officially confirmed.)
He, and Salama with him, were so confident that they came out of hiding. To the best of my understanding, after reading several media reports, Dief and Salama had emerged from one of the few tunnels in the area and were in a building in the compound. That they were in position to be hit came quickly to our attention. “…this was not their permanent location, but an operational opportunity that emerged,” explained one unnamed high level security official.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj7f110yoa
In other words, there was a limited time frame for acting.
The attack did not follow immediately, however, because it was important to first confirm that no hostages were present.
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Once the situation was cleared for attack, Defense Minister Gallant ordered a major hit, more significant in quantity of munitions than has been used in attempts on the lives of major Hamas figures. The goal was to get Dief this time.
In addition to various munitions from Air Force fighter jets and drones, five heavy bombs were dropped, including a bunker buster.
This is what the targeted area looked like after the attack:
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The report that followed from Hamas was that Dief was “fine.” It was anticipated that Hamas would be reluctant to admit that Dief was finished, but “fine”? Had there been an announcement that he was in critical condition but expected to survive, it might have been unlikely, but was possible. But this nonsensical fiction seemed to me an unintended acknowledgement of our success.
According to AFP, a top Hamas official said on Sunday that “Commander Mohammed Deif is well and directly overseeing” the operations of the Hamas military wing.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bk005aew00a
Ah, but at the same time, a Saudi newspaper report, citing sources in Gaza, indicated that Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, is going to assume Deif’s role.
And so, there we have it: Dief is “fine” but will be replaced.
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According to i24, citing Palestinian Arab sources, the death of Rafa’a Salama was confirmed. He was to be buried quickly.
The IDF confirmed this and said that Salama’s death “significantly impedes Hamas’ military capabilities.”
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1k1lwwd0
The deaths of the bodyguards of Dief and Salama have also been confirmed, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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As to Mohammed Dief himself, it would be difficult to overstate the importance of eliminating him.
He was a key figure in the planning and execution of the October 7 massacre, and for this alone deserved to die.
Analyst Yaakov Lappin says that additionally Dief “was the mastermind behind three decades of jihadist terrorism against Israel. He was also a key catalyst in Hamas’s ongoing efforts to team up with Iran and mortally wound Israel through a war of jihadist attrition from Gaza, Judea and Samaria and Lebanon…
“He played a crucial role in transforming Hamas from a guerilla force into a full-blown terror army within Gaza, complete with command and control, a major rocket arsenal and an unprecedented network of combat tunnels.”
Finally, “[by] eliminating figures like Deif and Salama, Israel not only dismantles the leadership framework of Hamas, but also helps crush Hamas’s future hopes to rebuild an effective terror army, a key war goal. “
https://www.jns.org/deifs-elimination-would-be-a-major-blow-to-hamas/
Let us fervently hope then for final confirmation that Dief is gone.
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According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry (noted for its distortions of the facts), at least 90 civilians were killed in the attack. Other sources report more – up to 300. Gazan officials refer to the attack as a “massacre” and Khalil Al-Hayya, the deputy chairman of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, outrageously charged that the strike targeting Dief was “a ridiculous justification” for targeting civilians.
This is both libelous and just plain crazy: the charge that Israel’s primary intent was killing civilians.
The IDF takes considerable – indeed extraordinary – pains to avoid causing civilian deaths. In this instance, Hamas had very deliberately located their compound next to a humanitarian area intended to provide civilians with safety. They were attempting to utilize these Gazan civilians as human shields.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the attack was a targeted strike on a Hamas compound surrounded by trees, buildings and sheds, and not a tent complex. The camp at Al-Mawasi is a tent complex.
According to The Times of Israel, the IDF said the low building that was struck, which was where Dief and Salama were located, “was not in a tent camp for displaced Palestinians, but rather in a fenced-off Hamas compound within a civilian environment.”
Hamas understood very well where they had located their compound.
The military imperative to take out Dief and Salama was very great. In spite of the fact that the compound was targeted precisely, it is impossible to say no civilians were hit. Inadvertently, unintentionally. I will provide additional information if I uncover more.
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I had intended to write today about negotiations with Hamas regarding release of hostages, but the above news took priority.
Now it appears that Hamas may stop negotiations, and certainly the dynamics will have changed.
We will return to look at this shortly.
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel. Pray that the tears might be lifted from our hearts.
Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, and for the rescue of our hostages.
Pray in a spirit of hope.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
