Israeli army has claimed to have killed Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif in airstrike on Gaza last month.
"Mohammad Deif is the "Bin Laden of Gaza," and eliminating him helps achieve the goals of the war. It is an important step in destroying Hamas' military and administrative capabilities." Yoav Galant, the minister of defense said in a statement.
ONLY QASSAM LEADERSHIP CAN CONFIRM OR DENY COMMANDER'S DEATH
Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq said Thursday that the confirmation or denial of the death of Qassam Brigades' commander Mohammed Deif is solely the responsibility of the brigades' leadership, emphasizing that no external announcements, including media reports, can verify such information.
The Israeli army on Thursday claimed that Deif, the commander of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip last month.
"Confirming or denying the death of any Qassam commander is the business of the Brigades and the movement's leadership," al-Rishq said in a statement on Telegram.
"Without an announcement from them, no news published in the media or by any other party can be confirmed," he added without elaborating.