Latest news with #Deif
Reuters
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
ICC prosecutor's office says Palestinian probe continues with urgency
THE HAGUE, Feb 27 - The International Criminal Court will urgently continue its investigation into crimes committed in Palestinian territories, or by Palestinians, the prosecutor's office said on Thursday, despite the withdrawal of an arrest warrant for a Hamas leader. The ICC said on Wednesday that judges had withdrawn an arrest warrant for Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, following credible reports of his death. Deif had been wanted for atrocities committed during Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israeli communities that triggered the war in Gaza. He had been accused by prosecutors of mass killing, rape and hostage taking. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year, but militant group Hamas only confirmed his death in late January. On Thursday, the prosecutor's office said the probe continued and it would not hesitate to seek arrest warrants for other suspects "if and when it considers that the threshold of a realistic prospect of conviction has been met". "Addressing the situation as an urgent priority, the office is conducting an active investigation, and advances multiple and interconnected additional lines of inquiry," it said in an e-mail. In November, judges at the ICC also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza. The Israeli leader dismissed the decision as anti-Semitic and said the accusations were absurd and false. The withdrawal of the warrant for Deif means there are now no public ICC arrest warrants for any Palestinian militants connected to the October 7 attacks. The decision to drop the case against Deif showed that more action was needed "to end impunity for atrocities still being committed by perpetrators from fundamentalist groups," said lawyer Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents Israeli victims at the ICC.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICC prosecutor's office says Palestinian probe continues with urgency
By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court will urgently continue its investigation into crimes committed in Palestinian territories, or by Palestinians, the prosecutor's office said on Thursday, despite the withdrawal of an arrest warrant for a Hamas leader. The ICC said on Wednesday that judges had withdrawn an arrest warrant for Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, following credible reports of his death. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Deif had been wanted for atrocities committed during Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israeli communities that triggered the war in Gaza. He had been accused by prosecutors of mass killing, rape and hostage taking. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike last year, but militant group Hamas only confirmed his death in late January. On Thursday, the prosecutor's office said the probe continued and it would not hesitate to seek arrest warrants for other suspects "if and when it considers that the threshold of a realistic prospect of conviction has been met". "Addressing the situation as an urgent priority, the office is conducting an active investigation, and advances multiple and interconnected additional lines of inquiry," it said in an e-mail. In November, judges at the ICC also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza. The Israeli leader dismissed the decision as anti-Semitic and said the accusations were absurd and false. The withdrawal of the warrant for Deif means there are now no public ICC arrest warrants for any Palestinian militants connected to the October 7 attacks. The decision to drop the case against Deif showed that more action was needed "to end impunity for atrocities still being committed by perpetrators from fundamentalist groups," said lawyer Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents Israeli victims at the ICC.
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Handing over the hostages - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
The careful curation by Hamas of the handovers of the Israeli hostages has shown its understanding of their value as a form of soft power The Palestinian resistance has transformed the exchange of hostages after the ceasefire and hostage-exchange deal between Israel and Hamas into another form of resistance. The vehicle is the imagery of the handover of the hostages to the Red Cross. Hamas' careful preparation of the location and setting of this, and its curation of the Hebrew and Arabic military images visible during the handover, deliver significant symbolic and emotive meanings. Its mastery of modern digital technology augments both the appeal and the power of the images and the impacts of their messages for diverse audiences. Some of these are addressed to Palestinian audiences, though many are clearly also addressed to the Israelis and the Western powers, above all Washington, Israel's main military and political backer that has been long set on helping the occupying power erase the Palestinian cause. According to analysts, the handover of the fourth batch of hostages at the beginning of February projected an image of enduring resilience, conveying the message that Hamas in Gaza remains a force that cannot be overlooked. Senior officers from Hamas' military wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, took charge of handing over a dual US-Israeli national and an Israeli national to the Red Cross amidst a large gathering of Palestinian civilians with a cordon of dozens of Al-Qassam fighters to secure the area where the exchange took place. A platform had been erected at the centre, with its backdrop featuring a large picture of late Al-Qassam Brigades commander Mohamed Deif alongside the phrase 'Zionism will not prevail.' Next to that was the emblem of Israeli intelligence's Unit 8200. Deif had survived at least seven Israeli targeted assassination operations over the past quarter of a century. The resistance had arranged for the third handover to take place in front of the home of late Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar. Al-Sinwar had also defied numerous targeted assassinations. The message of steadfastness was clear, as was the implication that, despite his death, the resistance's operational capacities remain intact. Each handover has been introduced using different elements to demonstrate the dynamism of the resistance. Regional and international satellite TV stations have competed to cover these landmark exchanges, and it has been crucial to optimise the regional and international media to achieve several objectives. In addition to affirming its resilience in the face of one of the world's best-equipped armies, the exchanges have also driven home the evident reality that the genocidal war that Israel has unleashed on Gaza since 7 October 2023 had failed to achieve its stated objective of eliminating the resistance. The moonscape of mass destruction that can be seen extending beyond the hostage handover platform in the images underscores the magnitude of the indiscriminate brutality of that aggression. If the scenes of the handovers and the return of hundreds of Palestinian political prisoners have offered solace and some reassurance to Palestinians after having endured so much devastation and loss of life, the messages were also in part addressed to Israeli society. They said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's continuous evasion of ceasefire and hostage-exchange initiatives and proposals so he could perpetuate the war, had failed to bring the hostages home. Nor had he made Israel safer. In the end, he was forced to negotiate with the resistance. The attention that Hamas dedicated to semiotic details reflects an understanding of their value as a form of soft power as a foreign policy tool and to rally support regionally and internationally. This has become more crucial than ever, given how Israeli blows against Hizbullah and Iran have severed logistical and military support from Gaza, while vital humanitarian support had been severed before this due to the Occupation's closure of the Rafah Crossing. Another aim of the resistance has been to refute the Israeli propaganda machine's distorted stereotypes of it that are generally picked up and disseminated by the Western media. The resistance scored another success here as well. The imagery made it clear that resistance members are far from being a cult of crazed extremists, driven by a thirst for violence and spurning civilised life. Instead, we see a sedate and orderly handover of the released hostages whose health and wellbeing has contrasted with the frail state of the Palestinian detainees released from Israel's prisons. Perhaps more importantly, we see scenes of civilians cheering the resistance fighters and mingling with them during the handovers, underscoring the deep connection between the resistance and ordinary people. Such scenes are a potent reminder that the resistance members come from people that have suffered decades of an inhumane foreign occupation. Here is the tangible rebuttal of Israeli and Western propaganda that would have us believe that the resistance is alien to the surrounding civilian society in order to justify bombing the whole of Gaza for a year and a half. The Palestinian resistance's sophisticated media messaging during the handovers transcends geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries. It helps reshape misleading impressions of the resistance, counteracting the ubiquitous Israeli propaganda and reminding the world that resistance is the right of a people under occupation. It contributes to building support for the Palestinian cause while vindicating the protesters at US and other Western universities who have persisted in demonstrating their support and sympathy for the Palestinian people despite efforts to suppress them. One measure of the resistance's success is to be found in the reactions of the Israeli Occupation authorities. It has thrown them into confusion, deepened divisions among them, and even caused delays in the handover of Palestinian political prisoners and hostages. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Al Bawaba
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Inside Mohammed Deif's home: His wife and daughter share their reality
ALBAWABA - A newly shared video on social media provides a unique look into the family life of Mohammed Deif, the late leader of Hamas' military arm, Al-Qassam Brigades. Israeli claims that Hamas officials and their family reside in opulent mansions or tunnels are refuted by the video, which shows his wife and three kids inside their humble Gaza home. "Before and after the war, our home had four mattresses and a mat," says Deif's wife, Um Khaled, in the film. The statement emphasizes the family's challenging living circumstances, which are comparable to those of many people in Gaza. Mohammed Deif and six other high-ranking military officials were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, according to a Thursday announcement from Al-Qassam Brigades. An important turning point in the continuing struggle is his killing. Deif, also known as Abu Khaled, was born in Khan Younis in 1965 and was instrumental in establishing Hamas' military strategy. A man of great secrecy, he led several missions against Israeli troops throughout the decades and avoided many Israeli assassination attempts. Ghadir Siyam, the daughter of prominent activist and former prisoner Fatima Halabi, was Deif's first wife. Ziad Al-Husseini, a leader in Gaza's Popular Forces, was Halabi's former spouse. Fatima actively participated in Palestinian resistance with her sister Raja Halabi, who headed the women's movement within Hamas. ‼️🚨حليمة الضيف تنعي والدها قائد هيئة أركان كتائب القسام محمد الضيف . — موسكو | 🇷🇺 MOSCOW NEWS (@M0SC0W0) January 31, 2025 اول ظهور لاسره الشهيد القائد محمد الضيف — محمد قاضي (@MohammedQadi4) January 31, 2025 Deif had three children from this marriage: Khaled, Baha, and Khadija. In 2014, an Israeli attack murdered his second wife, Widad Asfura, and their two children, Ali and Sarah. Halima and Omar were the couple's other two children. Like many others in Gaza, Deif's family was always in danger because of Israeli violence. They suffered much and were often compelled to adopt false identities for security concerns. His brother and his whole family were slaughtered in the most recent Israeli onslaught on Gaza, and both of his parents died years ago. The video of Deif's wife and kids adds another dimension to the continuing battle in Gaza by serving as a moving reminder of the personal sacrifices made by individuals who are part of the Palestinian resistance.
Middle East Eye
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Mohammed Deif: The ‘cat with nine lives' who transformed Hamas' military
Mohammed Deif, the man who led Hamas' armed wing for over two decades, survived at least seven Israeli assassination attempts during his lifetime. It had been believed by some that he may have survived an eighth attempt last year. Israel said that it killed Deif in an air strike on al-Mawasi in southern Gaza in July. But Hamas did not confirm the killing - until Thursday evening. A shadowy figure who was rarely photographed or filmed, Deif was one of the founding members of Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, playing a key role in its strategic and military development. Born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in 1965 in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, Deif was a refugee from an impoverished background. His family moved to Khan Younis in 1948, after being forced from their home in al-Qubayba, a town near Ramle, during the Nakba (or catastrophe). New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters He earned a degree from the Islamic University of Gaza, where he studied biology, physics, and chemistry. There he led the university's entertainment committee, often performing on stage as part of a theatre group called The Returnees. It was reported that years later, he may have used his acting experience by playing roles in Hamas videos. Deif joined Hamas as it was founded in 1987 during the First Intifida Palestinian uprising. Two years later he was detained by Israel for 16 months, charged with military involvement. It was during his imprisonment that he and fellow Hamas detainee Salah Shehade agreed to form a military cell within Hamas that would focus on capturing Israeli soldiers. Upon their release, Deif and Shehade were among the founding members of Qassam Brigades. 'The Guest' After Israel assassinated several senior Hamas leaders in the 1990s, Deif began to keep a low profile. He moved to the occupied West Bank, setting up a branch of Qassam Brigades. He moved around frequently, often staying in the homes of Hamas supporters, earning the nom de guerre "al-Deif", which means 'the guest' in Arabic. On 9 October 1994, Deif led an operation to abduct Israeli soldier Nachshon Wachsman, which Hamas hoped would pressure Israel into releasing its founder Ahmed Yassin. Appearing on camera for the first time, a masked Deif announced the capture, demanding the Israeli government release Yassin. A failed Israeli rescue attempt five days later led to the deaths of Wachsman, three Palestinian fighters and an Israeli soldier. People perform absentee funeral prayers for Mohammed Deif at the Great Mosque of Gaza on 31 January (Reuters/Omar Ashtawy/apaimages) Deif would reportedly go on to be involved in a number of attacks against Israelis, targeting both soldiers and civilians. In May 2000, he was arrested by Palestinian Authority security forces, but escaped with the help of guards seven months later. Yasser Arafat was reported to have been 'infuriated' by the escape, ordering Deif's re-arrest 'dead or alive'. After the death of Qassem Brigades leader Salah Shehade, Deif took command in July 2002. He remained in charge until his death over two decades later. As leader, he established an academy for military training and development, and oversaw the production of rockets and missiles in Gaza, and the procurement of weapons from abroad. He is credited with helping to design Hamas' Qassam rocket and the vast network of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip. He also is believed to have created the Shadow Unit, which hides Israeli captives in Gaza and deceives those attempting to rescue them. Deif reportedly organised a raid that led to the capture of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, in June 2006. Shalit was released five years later in exchange for 1,027 Palestinians, including Yahya Sinwar, who would later lead Hamas. 'Cat with nine lives' Israeli forces attempted to assassinate Deif at least seven times between 2001 and 2021. He reportedly lost an eye in one of the attacks, an arm in another, and was partially paralysed. His repeated survival earned him the nickname 'the cat with nine lives' among his adversaries. An assassination attempt in August 2014, during a six-week war on Gaza, killed Deif's wife, daughter, aged three, and son, aged seven months. A year later, the US State Department added his name to its list of specially designated global terrorists. He reportedly made a rare audio address during the 2014 war, warning Israel against deploying ground forces. 'What the air force and your artillery shelling has failed to accomplish will not be accomplished by ground forces,' Deif said. 'You are sending your soldiers to a definite slaughterhouse, God willing.' In his next audio address, in May 2021, the shadowy commander said Israel would pay a 'heavy price' if it did not withdraw its forces from Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem. A two-week war ensued, during which Israeli forces killed 256 Palestinians, while Palestinian groups killed 15 people in Israel. On 7 October 2023, he made his last public audio address, announcing a surprise attack on southern Israel which killed around 1,100 people and led to 250 others being taken captive to Gaza. Deif, along with Sinwar, is widely believed to have masterminded the attack. 'If you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it - get out with trucks, cars, axes, today the best and most honorable history starts,' he said in the message. Footage released by Al Jazeera in a documentary last week showed Deif, with his face blurred, in a command room planning 7 October, stating: 'We can change history.' Deif, Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' former leader, were sought by the International Criminal Court for arrest warrants over charges of killing hundreds of Israeli civilians and the taking of captives on 7 October. The ICC prosecutor said the three Hamas leaders bore criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity, including murder and extermination, as well as war crimes such as hostage-taking and cruel treatment of captives, and other serious offences. All three leaders were killed by Israel before the warrant could be issued.
