Mohammed Deif
| Mohammed Deif | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri 1965 (age 51–52) Khan Younis, Egyptian controlled Gaza Strip |
| Residence | Gaza, Palestine |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Other names | Abu Khaled |
| Years active | 2002 – present |
| Known for | Commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades |
| Spouse(s) | Widad (2007-2014) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 Palestinian Authority (Hamas) |
| Service/branch | Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades |
| Rank | Chief Commander |
Mohammed Deif (Arabic: محمّد ضيف ; born 1965 in Khan Younis), born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, serves as the chief commander of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the organization Hamas. He has been Israel’s 'most wanted’ man for the last 20 years for his involvement in multiple kidnappings of Israeli soldiers, sending suicide terrorists and planting bombs on buses. Last Israeli attempt to kill Deif was in an airstrike on 19 August 2014. Hamas denied that Deif was killed. Deif's wife, infant son, and daughter perished in the attack.
The United States Department of State added Deif to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists on 8 September 2015.
Deif learned how to assemble improvised explosive devices from Yahya Ayyash. After the assassination of Ayyash, he began to assume his role in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
In 1994, Deif was involved in the kidnappings and murders of Israeli soldiers Shahar Simani, Aryeh Frankenthal and Nachshon Wachsman. He was behind bus bombings in Jerusalem and Ashkelon, attacks that killed about 50 Israelis. Five suicide terrorists he sent into Israel in March 2000 were killed by Yamam. After his release from PA prison in April 2001, he was involved in a 'wave of bombing attacks' that lasted several months.
Deif became the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades after Israel killed Salah Shehade in July 2002. Israel suspects him of being a bombmaker, and holds him personally responsible for the murder of dozens of civilians in numerous suicide bombings since 1996, among them the Jaffa Road bus bombings in Jerusalem. He is considered to be the designer of the Qassam rocket, together with Nidal Fat'hi Rabah Farahat and Adnan al-Ghoul. He was in Palestinian custody from May 2000 to April 2001. Deif was the person considered at the top of Israel's most wanted list for several years.
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