Muhammad Al-Deif, born Muhammad Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri in 1965 in the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in Gaza, is a prominent Palestinian military commander and the current leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Known as “The Guest” due to his elusive nature and habit of not staying in one place for long, Al-Deif has been a significant figure in the Palestinian resistance movement and a primary target for Israeli security forces for over two decades.
Early Life and Rise in Hamas
Al-Deif’s upbringing was marked by poverty, and he had to work from a young age to help support his family. He later studied science at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he became involved in religious activities and joined the Muslim Brotherhood. During the First Palestinian Intifada in 1987, he joined Hamas and quickly rose through the ranks due to his strategic and military prowess. He became particularly close to Yahya Ayyash, another key figure in Hamas, who helped him develop bomb-making and operational skills.
Leadership and Military Strategy
After the assassination of Yahya Ayyash by Israeli forces in 1996, Al-Deif took over as a key leader in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. He orchestrated several suicide bombings and military operations against Israeli targets, earning a reputation as a master tactician. His strategies have included developing a sophisticated tunnel network in Gaza, which has been used for smuggling and launching attacks, and enhancing Hamas’s rocket capabilities.
Survival and Assassination Attempts
Al-Deif has survived multiple assassination attempts by Israel, which have left him with severe injuries, including the loss of an eye and parts of his limbs. Despite these injuries, he has continued to lead Hamas’s military operations from the shadows. Notably, during an Israeli airstrike in 2014, Al-Deif’s wife and two of his children were killed, but he survived.
Recent Activities
Al-Deif is believed to have been the mastermind behind the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, 2023. His ability to evade capture and continue leading military operations has made him one of Israel’s most wanted men and a symbol of resilience for many Palestinians .
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Muhammad Al-Deif, born Muhammad Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (also known as Abu Khaled), in 1965 in Gaza, is a Palestinian military commander and the commander-in-chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. He has been considered “Enemy No. 1” for Israel since 2014 and is the mastermind behind the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, 2023.
Al-Deif’s notoriety and the relentless pursuit by Israeli forces date back to his early years. Born into poverty in the Khan Yunis camp in the southern Gaza Strip, Al-Deif’s early life was marked by hardship. He studied at the Islamic University of Gaza and was involved in religious activities on campus. His involvement in the Muslim Brotherhood eventually led him to join Hamas during the 1980s with the help of Yahya Ayyash, a prominent figure in the organization known as “The Engineer”.
Al-Deif became an integral part of Hamas’s military wing, gaining a reputation for his strategic mind and operational skills. He was deeply involved in the planning and execution of suicide operations inside Israel during the 1990s. Following the assassination of Ayyash by Israeli intelligence in 1996, Al-Deif’s influence within Hamas grew, and he eventually took over as the head of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in 2002. Under his leadership, Hamas developed a network of tunnels for smuggling and launching attacks, and significantly improved its rocket capabilities .
Despite numerous attempts on his life by Israeli forces, Al-Deif has managed to survive. These attempts, which have included airstrikes and targeted attacks, have left him with severe injuries, including the loss of an eye and parts of his limbs. In 2014, an Israeli airstrike killed his wife and two of his children, but Al-Deif survived the attack. His ability to evade capture and continue leading military operations has only added to his legendary status among Hamas supporters.
Al-Deif’s role in the surprise attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, has once again brought him into the spotlight. His ability to orchestrate such a significant operation while remaining hidden underscores his tactical genius and the ongoing challenge he poses to Israeli security forces. His commitment to the Palestinian cause and his survival against all odds have made him a symbol of resistance for many Palestinians and a persistent threat to Israel.
Muhammad Al-Deif’s life and actions highlight the complexities and enduring nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His strategic mind, leadership in Hamas, and survival against numerous Israeli assassination attempts have made him a legendary figure within the organization and a persistent challenge for Israeli security forces.
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