Mohammad Zaif

Mohammad Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammad Deif, born in 1965 in Khan Yunis, Gaza, is a senior Hamas commander and the leader of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas). He is considered one of the most prominent figures within Hamas and has been involved in numerous military operations against Israel over the years.Early Life and Education: Mohammad Deif was born in a refugee camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza. He studied biology at university and was also involved in theater activities. Despite limited information about his early years, he is known to have joined Hamas in 1989 and the al-Qassam Brigades in 1993.Military Career: Deif is closely associated with Yahya Ayyash, one of the most notorious Hamas commanders. After the martyrdom of Salah Mustafa in 2002, he was appointed as the commander of the al-Qassam Brigades. Israel considers him one of the masterminds behind Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli targets starting from 1996. Additionally, he played a significant role in developing the Qassam rockets and in constructing underground tunnel networks in Gaza, which are believed to be his primary refuge from Israeli military attacks.Attempts on His Life: Israel has made at least seven attempts to assassinate Mohammad Deif, especially in the 2000s. One notable attempt was in 2014 when Israeli airstrikes targeted a house in Gaza, killing his wife and infant daughter, but Deif himself survived. Due to his ability to avoid multiple assassination attempts, Deif has earned the nickname “the cat with nine lives” from Israeli officials. His avoidance of modern communication technology has helped him evade Israeli intelligence operations.Role and Influence: Despite being injured and paralyzed from the waist down after a failed Israeli assassination attempt, Deif continued to lead the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, with decisions still being made under his leadership. Israel views him as its top enemy, blaming him for the deaths of many Israelis.