Hamas leader died in 2014, but lived to survive five assassination attempts

The leader of terror group Hamas once died in an airstrike from Israel's military. . . only to be resurrected a few hours later before going on to incredibly survive a total of five assassination attempts.

Mohammed Deif is the commander of the group responsible for launching more than 5,000 rockets into Israel in a surprise assault today (October 7) which has left more than 200 dead.

The attack by the group designated a terrorist organisation by the UK Government in 2021 was launched on the last day of the Jewish High Holiday of Succot, as well as Shabbat, when the vast majority of the country's population were in synagogues to celebrate the festival. Within minutes, social media was filled with photos and videos of Hamas terrorists taking Israeli residents hostage, brutalising them and murdering them.

READ MORE: Brit saw 'blood flowing through Israeli streets' as war declared on terror group

And Deif, speaking to local media, claimed that the attack was done partly because Jewish people “perform Talmudic rituals and prayers, and blow the horn while wearing clothes of priests”.

The bloke has been a target for Israel for more than 20 years, with the country's first attempt to take out the former bomb-making expert taking place in September 2002 – with the latest happening in May 2021, with two attempts happening in the space of one week during Operation Guardian of the Walls.

However, some media does claim he has actually been the target of around seven attacks in total.

But it is the 2014 attempt that lives on in infamy, as it saw Hamas announce the man's death. Israeli intelligence sources claimed that in August of that year, an airstrike had killed him and his wife and daughter.

  • Nostradamus predicted new 'great war' and 'evil doing' in 2023 as Israel hit by rockets

This saw a Hamas spokesman label him a “martyr” – which is the name given to someone who is killed, either by enemy strike or suicide attack, because of their religious beliefs. But just a few hours after being confirmed as dead, Hamas changed its tune and claimed he was actually alive.

A spokesman said at the time: “Mohammed Deif is safe and was not not hurt in the Israeli strike. Mohammed Deif will be the commander who leads Hamas units into Al-Aqsa mosque.

  • Israeli families massacred in rocket barrage as bulldozer tears through border fence

“Mohammed Deif is alive and healthy. At his command we will destroy every Zionist city and will take over the entire land of Palestine.”

Deif has never really spoken to the media, with images of him hard to come by. It is thought that he has no permanent home, moving from town to town on an almost weekly basis.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

Source: Read Full Article