Mohammed Deif (55) is the mysterious leader Israel has been hunting for over 25 years.
In at least five previous attacks, he has lost his wife, his two children, an eye, an arm and both legs, but escaped alive. In the last week, he has survived two direct attacks.
Deif is one of the founders and commander-in-chief of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades – Hamas’ military wing. He is considered the mastermind behind a series of terrorist attacks against Israel that go back several decades.
For more than two decades, he has according AP lived in hiding. The picture above, a 30-year-old ID picture, is the only known one found by him. Even in Gaza, only a handful of people will be able to recognize the anonymous Hamas leader, according to the news agency.
– Lured Hamas to death
Spoken for the first time in seven years
The two targeted attacks were confirmed on Wednesday by a spokesman for the Israeli military, General Hidai Zilberman.
According to Times of Israel he has tried to take off five times earlier – the first time in 2001. An attack the following year must have cost Deif an eye. In 2006, he is said to have been seriously injured and lost one arm and both legs.
During the Gaza war in 2014, Israel first believed that it had killed the military leader in a new attack. Instead, his wife, his newborn son and his three-year-old daughter were confirmed killed after the attack.
Just over two weeks ago, Deif made his first public statement in almost seven years after the tensions in East Jerusalem.
There he warned that Israel would pay “a high price” for the expulsions of Palestinians.
– This is our last warning: If the aggression against our people in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood does not stop immediately, we will not stand still and watch, it was said in the statement.
