Israeli recognition that Al-Qassam Commander Mohamed Deif is alive proves its intelligence failure, Quds Press reported senior Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh as saying yesterday.
The Hamas leader said that this proves that the crime committed by the Israeli occupation when it attempted to assassinated Deif must be condemned.
In a statement sent to journalists, Haniyeh said that this recognition is a proof that the attack on the house, where Deif was reportedly hid, was not accidental and the killings were pre-planned.
About Deif, Haniyeh said: “Will continue fighting the occupation and will also lead the Palestinian national liberation project.”
Haniyeh stressed on the Palestinian right and said that the Palestinians everywhere are looking forward to the minute they return to their homeland.
He also called for international bodies to act responsibly and protect Palestinians from Israeli policies. He stressed that peace would not be achieved without the liberation of all Palestinian lands.
Early yesterday, Israeli media reported that Israel attempted to assassinate Al-Qassam Commander Mohamed Deif during last summer’s offensive on Gaza. They added that military decision-makers stressing that Deif is still alive.
On August 19, 2014, Israeli warplanes targeted a three-story house in the middle of the Gaza Strip, killing Deif’s wife and two children in addition to several members from Al-Dalou family.
Since then, no information has been known about Deif, however Hamas said that Deif was safe and unhurt.
Israeli has been chasing Deif, 50, since the beginning of the 1990s, accusing him of manipulating several military operations that killed tens of Israelis. He survived several assassination attempts.
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