Mohammed Deif : The Planning and Execution of the Recent Attack on Israel by a Senior Hamas Leader

Mohammed Deif: the “Al Aqsa Flood

In recent history, Israel faced a devastating attack from Hamas that some have likened to its own 9/11 moment. This assault, however, is known by another name in the eyes of its secretive mastermind, Palestinian militant Mohammed Deif: the “Al Aqsa Flood.”

The Spark of Revenge: Al Aqsa Mosque

The genesis of this retaliatory attack can be traced back to May 2021 when Israel stormed the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam. Scenes of worshippers being beaten, attacked, and forcibly removed from the mosque ignited the anger of the Arab and Muslim world, serving as the catalyst for what would follow.

🚨 #BREAKING: The commander-in-chief of the Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, #MohammedDeif, announces the Al-Aqsa Flood battle in a historic speech:
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“They attacked the stationed worshippers and desecrated Al-Aqsa, and we have previously warned them. The enemy desecrated… pic.twitter.com/xYG0sHHCzV

— Trip (@tripchawi) October 7, 2023

The 11-Day Conflict

The storming of the Al Aqsa mosque, long a flashpoint for violence over matters of sovereignty and religion, set off 11 days of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas. This clash became the worst breach in Israeli defenses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict, leading Israel to declare war and launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

The Elusive Figure: Mohammed Deif

Mohammed Deif is a survivor of seven Israeli assassination attempts, with the most recent occurring in 2021. He rarely speaks and never appears in public. Yet, when Hamas’s TV channel announced his intention to speak, it signified a significant moment.

In the audio recording, Deif declared, “Today the rage of Al Aqsa, the rage of our people and nation is exploding. Our mujahedeen, today is your day to make this criminal understand that his time has ended.”

There are only three known images of Deif: one from his 20s, another of him masked, and a shadowy silhouette used when broadcasting the audio tape.

The Mastermind in the Shadows

The whereabouts of Mohammed Deif remain unknown, but he is believed to be in Gaza, likely concealed in a maze of tunnels under the enclave. An Israeli security source has confirmed his direct involvement in planning and operational aspects of the attack.

Two Brains, One Mastermind

While the decision to prepare the attack involved two key figures, Deif and Yehya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Deif emerged as the primary architect. Information about the operation was closely guarded and known only to a select few within Hamas.

The Element of Secrecy

Secrecy shrouded the operation to such an extent that even Iran, a significant source of support for Hamas, was unaware of the timing and details of the attack. The plan, conceived by Deif, involved a prolonged effort at deception, with Israel led to believe that Hamas was primarily focused on economic development in Gaza.

A Hero in the Shadows

Mohammed Deif, born as Mohammad Masri in 1965, has become a legendary figure in Palestinian history. His journey from a refugee camp to the leader of Hamas’s armed wing is marked by resilience. Despite losing an eye and enduring serious injuries in an Israeli airstrike, he has remained elusive, avoiding modern digital technology such as smartphones.

In videos, he is either masked or partially concealed, earning him the reputation of “the man in the shadows.” His survival amidst adversity has elevated him to the status of a Palestinian folk hero.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to unfold, the shadowy figure of Mohammed Deif remains a central enigma, his actions and motivations hidden from the world’s view.

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