An Israeli newspaper said that the Israeli army tried twice - during its current escalation against the Gaza Strip - to assassinate Muhammad al-Deif, commander-in-chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), but his attempts were unsuccessful.
The "Times of Israel" newspaper indicated in its report, published on Tuesday, that the guest has been on Israel's most wanted list for more than 25 years, accusing him of planning and carrying out a large number of attacks against it, adding that the Israeli army considers him a field commander. Seasoned.
The newspaper said that it learned that the Israeli forces had tried to assassinate Deif at least twice during the past days, but added that Military Intelligence believes that he survived both times and was unharmed.
She indicated that the military censorship did not authorize the publication of this information until Tuesday evening.
The newspaper quoted statements by the commander of the Southern Command in the occupation army, in which he said that the guest, along with Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is at the top of the list of those targeted for assassination.
The occupation army has confirmed on more than one occasion during its current operations against the Gaza Strip that one of its main objectives is the assassination of senior Hamas leaders.
Military officials told Israel's Channel 12 news on Tuesday evening that they were looking forward to continuing the fighting so that in particular, the pursuit of Deif and other senior Hamas leaders could continue.
Failed in 7 attempts
The Times of Israel reported that Israeli forces had attempted to assassinate Deif at least five times during the past years, in addition to the last two attempts.
The first attempt was in 2001, and the second was in 2002, during which the guest lost an eye, according to the newspaper, and then the third attempt took place a year later.
#Mohamed_the guest commander of the staff of the al-qassam brigades, (mujahid) was born in a Palestinian refugee camp, has not left his weapon for more than 30 years, the first wanted for the Israeli occupation forces, he was subjected to many assassination attempts, one of them was seriously injured, and he lost his wife and two of his children In the last assassination attempt.
- Radwan Al-Akhras (@rdooan) May 5, 2021
63 words carried by the last warning statement were enough to occupy the Zionist media and social networking sites tonight .. !!
This happens when the speaker is #Mohammed_Al-Dhaif, the chief of staff of the Palestinian resistance, the man whose shadow we only know, while the world witnessed his action in the field of fighting the occupation.
pic.twitter.com/EvBSlfQ5OH
- Adham Abu Salmiya # Palestine 🇵🇸 (@ adham922) May 5, 2021
The fourth attempt came with a raid carried out by Israeli fighters in 2006, during which the guest was seriously wounded, as a result of which he lost both legs and an arm, according to the report.
The newspaper adds that Israel tried again during its offensive on Gaza in 2014, and came close to it, but the guest survived, killing his wife, infant son and 3-year-old daughter.
List of assassinations
In the same context, Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said - in an interview with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper - that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, and Ismail Haniyeh, head of the movement's political bureau, are on the list of Israeli targets.
He added that pressure was put on the Israeli government to cease fire in Gaza, but it was pushed back because "it has a mission to complete."
As of Tuesday, the number of victims of the Israeli aggression on Gaza reached 217 martyrs - including 63 children and 36 women - and 1500 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip.