Who is Muhammad Deif?
Muhammad Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas’s military wing, is believed to be an architect of the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and ignited the nine-month-old war in Gaza. A mysterious figure who has repeatedly escaped Israeli assassination attempts, Mr. Deif has been one of Israel’s most wanted men for decades.
He is revered within some Palestinian circles for overseeing the development of Hamas’s military capabilities and has been a symbol of the group’s resilience, finding ways to survive despite being a top target of one of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East.
On Oct. 7, as Hamas launched its attack on Israeli towns and military installations, Mr. Deif released a recorded speech declaring that the group had launched its operation so “the enemy will understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended.”
“Righteous fighters, this is your day to bury this criminal enemy,” he said in the speech, which was broadcast on Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV. “Its time has finished. Kill them wherever you find them,” he added. “Remove this filth from your land and your sacred places. Fight and the angels fight with you.”
Hamas is backed by Iran and Mr. Deif supports the relationship.
He has not been seen publicly in years, and few photos of him are in the public domain. In January, the Israeli army published an image of a man it said was Mr. Deif; the picture showed him resting under a tree with a wad of cash in hand.
