00:00Israel's Army Radio has reported on Saturday that Mohammad Dev, the leader of Hamas' military
00:27wing, was targeted in a precise air strike in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis area.
00:34The strike, which required extensive preparation and relied on last-minute intelligence, also
00:40reportedly has targeted Rafa Salama, the commander of Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade.
00:46While Salama's death was later reported by the Saudi media, Dev's fate remains unclear.
00:51However, Israel claims that Dev is probably dead.
00:57The idea of that is the Israeli Defence Forces estimate that dozens might be killed in the
01:01strike but proceeded due to high-value targets.
01:05Later assessment suggested that many of those killed were active Hamas terrorists serving
01:10as security for Dev and Salama.
01:14However, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports 71 deaths and over 289 injuries, claiming
01:21many casualties were civilians.
01:24As per top Israeli sources, this was the best opportunity to kill Mohammad Dev and
01:29they took even if it meant stalling the peace talks.
01:33Mohammad Dev, born as Mohammad Masri in 1965 in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, has been a
01:38key figure in Hamas since joining.
01:42Known for his bomb-making expertise and development of Hamas' tunnel network, Dev has survived
01:48numerous assassination attempts, earning him the nickname, the man with nine lives
01:52among Gazans.
01:54He is credited with masterminding the October 7 attack on southern Israel which resulted
01:59in 1,200 deaths and over 250 abductions.
02:03The strike has prompted mixed reaction and conflicting reports.
02:08A senior Hamas official has also dismissed the report of targeting Dev as nonsense claiming
02:12all casualties were civilians.
02:15The official accused Israel of escalating the war of genocide with American support
02:19and global silence.
02:21Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed a standing directive
02:25to eliminate Hamas officials and stated that he will conduct a situational assessment with
02:30security forces.
02:33In response to the strike, Israeli defence leaders, including Defence Minister Yoav Galant
02:37and IDF Chief of Staff Harzi Halevi convened for an operational assessment.
02:43Reports indicate that IDF has intensified its assault on terrorist targets in southern
02:47Gaza with the Israeli Air Force dropping heavy bombs and ground forces commencing tactical
02:52manoeuvres in the area.
02:55The attempted assassination of Dev highlights the ongoing conflict complexity and the challenges
03:00in targeting high-ranking terrorist leaders.
03:03As the situation develops, the international community continues to watch closely with
03:07many calling for a ceasefire and a resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
