Fate of Hamas leader unclear after Israeli strike

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The Israel Defense Forces may have killed the leader with an airstrike, IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Sunday evening. The IDF on Saturday launched an airstrike that targeted a compound in Khan Younis where Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was reportedly staying, according to Halevi’s statement. Israeli officials have not confirmed if Deif died in the attack, but authorities did say that Rafa Salameh, commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, was killed.

Deif planned and ordered the October 7 attack on Israel, according to the IDF. Israeli security agency officials say no hostages were in the compound at the time of the strike.

How many people died in the attack? The strike killed at least 90 Palestinians and injured hundreds more, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. It was unclear how many of those killed were members of Hamas.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report in The Sift about Netanyahu’s recent clarification about Israel’s objective for any cease-fire agreement.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.