Did Israel kill the Hamas man with the 'seven lives'?
Seven attempts on the life of Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif have been reported. It is not clear if the eighth, from the weekend, struck him. However, it is certain: The Israeli bombing cost around 100 Palestinians their lives. And the way out of the war is not being pursued.
He is never long in Gaza in one place and is therefore called "the guest": Mohammed Deif - chief of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Hunted by the Israeli security apparatus for over two decades. Numerous bloody attacks against Israel are said to be on his record. The "Times of Israel" calls him the "architect" of the violence on October 7, 2023. In Gaza, it is said that he has seven lives, seven assassination attempts by the Israelis that he has survived. But what happened with the eighth?
Approximately 90 Palestinians lost their lives when Israel launched an attack against Deif over the weekend, with the destructive power of 2000-kg bombs. What the Israelis can currently confirm is: Was Deif among the casualties? The Hamas denies this vehemently, but would they give in so soon after the attack in a power struggle with the enemy? That would not be wise in the strength contest with the adversary.
The densely populated area of al-Mawasi, where the Israeli bombs fell on Saturday, plunged the area into chaos and great distress. "I have never experienced so many injured people being admitted at the same time," reported a medical coordinator from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Saturday from the last still functioning clinic in the southern Gaza Strip. Everywhere in the hospital "there were injured or dead." MSF also spoke of dozens of fatalities, hundreds of wounded, and the clinic being completely overwhelmed.
Such a massive attack does not fit with the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He had announced in June that the intensive combat phase would soon come to an end.
However, the hunt for Deif stands out from other battles. Under his leadership, a complex tunnel system was developed under the Gaza Strip in the past 25 years. He has been hiding there, in the labyrinth of tunnels, from Israeli security and military forces for just as long.
Apparently, the Israelis had learned that "he was holding a meeting of several Hamas commanders in an above-ground building, surrounded by civilians and civilians," describes Lintl, who researches for the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik on the Middle East. In his assessment, it was Deif's deliberate decision to meet with the commanders among so many innocents, and moreover in a region that was declared safe. A region where Palestinian civilians and refugees sought shelter from the fighting.
The head of the Qassam Brigades reportedly took the risk for the population, aware that his presence would cause harm. He used his compatriots as a shield. At the same time, Deif underestimated the radicalism of the Israeli side, ready to take the chance to eliminate him: through a bombing raid in this protected zone.
This massive attack - once again, most likely a violation of international law - sends a message to Hamas. The message reads: No one who challenges Israel with a terror attack like the one on October 7 will survive. We pay (almost) any price. "This symbolic factor is important for the goal of eliminating Mohammed Deif," says Lintl. In addition, the scientist also sees operational effects. The capabilities of Hamas would be impaired. Whether someone like Deif could be replaced quickly is questionable.
Hamas continues planning underground
However, what about a peace solution for Gaza and Israel in the long term? It makes little difference to bring many people to an extremely high blood toll out of traffic. Already, fights are flaring up again in areas that the Israeli army (IDF) had previously freed from Hamas control. If control is relinquished, structures are rebuilt. Although Israel's military controls wide areas of the Gaza Strip on the surface, below ground, in the tunnel city, Hamas continues to focus all its forces and plans on the one goal: eliminating Israel. "Wherever the Israeli army withdraws, you can see that Hamas is coming back," says Lintl. "In Gaza City, Israeli forces are conducting maneuvers again because Hamas is gaining strength there."
This effect shows that many expert voices warned from the beginning: it would be difficult to permanently eliminate terrorists if public order is not established in Gaza. A system to be implemented that provides Palestinians with perspectives while also allowing control. The Israelis do not want to exercise control in Gaza in the future, but at the same time reject initiatives to find another solution. A transition system, for example, that would be implemented jointly by Arab neighboring states until a Palestinian solution is found.
Self-determination for Gaza and security for Israel - these two goals must be intertwined. But it would be difficult to achieve that, even if there were constructive, negotiating partners on both sides. In the case of Gaza, however, international mediators are dealing with a terrorist organization on one side. On the other side, there are representatives of a government that relies on right-wing parties for its majority, who openly demand to depopulate the Gaza Strip. This nut may be very hard to crack.
"The international community is pushing for a post-war scenario in which the Palestinians determine their own fate and the Gaza Strip is rebuilt. Demilitarized and with security guarantees for Israel, international forces could take over in Gaza," says Lintl. "But the Israeli government insists on maintaining military access to the Gaza Strip or even having a military presence there."
Between these positions, no agreement is possible yet, and the fear grows that the war will continue to smolder on a smaller flame for years, preventing the rebuilding of Gaza and leaving the Palestinians in Gaza facing an indefinite state of exception.
At the negotiating table, nothing is happening with regard to the hostages. A few weeks ago, it seemed that the so-called "Biden-Plan" could provide an impetus: hostages for several weeks of ceasefire, which would eventually lead to an end of the war. However, the momentum has passed. And now, following the attack on Deif, it appears that the talks, which could only run through external mediators, have come to a complete standstill.
1027 Prisoners for a Soldier's Life
Nevertheless, this may be the only chance to bring home the remaining 120 hostages: the "Deal with the Devil," as the majority of the Israeli population has been demanding and increasingly desperate that something happens. To conclude a deal, Netanyahu would have to bypass his right-wing government partners. These oppose a ceasefire and threaten to leave the coalition if a deal is reached.
In Israel, every human life is considered "infinitely" valuable. In a bold move, Netanyahu, as Prime Minister, released 1027 Palestinian prisoners several years ago to save one Israeli life: that of kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit. Today, it would take another bold move from him to finally say: "I will no longer be held hostage by right-wing extremists." Netanyahu could save those who are still among the 120. The fighting in Gaza would cease, and the suffering of the people there could be alleviated. The situation in the north could also calm down, as Hezbollah continues to fire on Israel as long as Gaza is under attack. A bold step from the Prime Minister - and in a seemingly hopeless, desperate, deadly situation - suddenly creates a perspective.
- Despite the Israeli bombing, Hamas continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, with Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military chief, reportedly using civilians as a shield in some instances.
- The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a major focus in Israeli politics, with many calling for a peaceful resolution but also advocating for a strong response to Hamas attacks, such as the one on October 7.
- The situation of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, many of whom have been displaced for generations, is a pressing humanitarian issue that must be addressed as part of any lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
