Israel confirm killing 'Osama Bin Laden of Gaza' who was 'mastermind' behind October 7 attacks

The IDF released a video of an airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Deif was second in command of Hamas in Gaza and accused of masterminding the terror group’s atrocious October 7 attack.

The attack which sparked Israel’s bombardment of Gaza resulted in 1,200 people being killed and 251 being taken hostage.

At least 39,480 Palestinians have since lost their lives in Gaza, the Strip’s Hamas-run Health Ministry has claimed.

The video of Deif’s assassination showed a huge explosion erupting in a set of tightly-packed homes.

The Gazan authorities claimed at least 90 people died and dozens of Palestinians were left injured.

Israel was hunting down Deif for decades but the 59-year-old evaded capture by hiding within Hamas' terror tunnels.

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However, he lost his eye during an assassination attempt in 2002.

Israeli authorities imprisoned Deif in 1989 but he joined Hamas' military wing Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades soon after.

Israel accused him of planning and supervising bus bombings which killed tens of Israelis in 1996 and of involvement in the capture and killing of three Israeli soldiers in the mid-1990s.

Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defence Minister, expressed his glee at Deif’s death.

He said: “The killing of the master murderer Muhammad Daf - ‘Bin Laden of Gaza’ on July 13, is a big step on the way to eradicating Hamas as a military and governmental organisation, and to achieving the goals of the war we set.

“The high-quality and precise operation in which he was eliminated was made possible thanks to the optimal cooperation between the IDF and the Shin Bet and those who are at their head.

“The results of the operation make it clear that Hamas is an organisation in disintegration, and that the terrorists must choose between surrender and death.”

He added: “The security system will pursue the Hamas terrorists - from the planners of the massacre to the perpetrators, and will not rest until the mission is completed.”