After days of speculation whether the IDF’s operation on Saturday night resulted in the death of Hamas’s number 2 leader Mohammed Deif, channel 12 in Israel claims that the security establishment is “certain” Deif was eliminated.
On Sunday, the IDf and Shin Bet confirmed that Hamas deputy Rafa’a Salameh, struck at a compound in the Al-Mawasi area on Saturday, had died.
However, there was still uncertainty whether the main target–Mohammed Deif–was killed, and at a press conference on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “It wasn’t certain” about the ultimate fate of Deif.
Channel 12 reported on Monday that “The assessment of all in the Israeli security establishment” is that Deif was also “eliminated” along with Rafa’a Salameh.
Hamas, however, denied Deif was killed and said he was “doing fine” and was still commanding terror forces.
Israeli officials have cautioned that Hamas would try to deny their leaders, including Deif, have been assassinated and will try to convince Israel their mission failed even if it didn’t.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Hamas was “trying to hide the results” of the attack.
