Hamas leader Mohammed Deif circa 1990s
Hamas leader Mohammed Deif circa 1990sReuters

Was Hamas arch-terrorist Mohammed Deif killed during Operation Protective Edge? Not necessarily, said IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. In what may be one of the last interviews he gives as CoS - he is set to step down in several months - Gantz discussed with Makor Rishon his feelings on the success and failures of the IDF during the war, and the defense establishment's prospects for the future.

Gantz said he was pretty satisfied with the army's conduct during the war, with the IDF performing as needed and bravely fighting back against the Hamas terror threat. He said he was concerned about the future though; if the government does not provide the defense establishment with the money it needs to defend the country, then the country won't get defended.

In response to why the IDF did not just finish off Hamas, and what his position on the matter was vis-a-vis the Defense Minister and Prime Minister, Gantz said that he, Moshe Yaalon, and Binyamin Netanyahu had discussed the matter in depth. “In my opinion, we as a trio functioned well, coming to what we all agreed were the right decisions. However, I cannot say that there were no disputes and debates, some strong, on these matters.”

Regarding Mohammed Deif - the head of Hamas's "military wing", the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades - Gantz said it's not clear what happened, but “I believe he is with us, running around somewhere. I believe he is alive somewhere.”

In August, rumors spread that an IDF strike in Gaza had eliminated Deif, and Israeli diplomatic sources confirmed that Israel tried to eliminate Mohammed Deif.

Hamas claimed that five bunker-buster bombs were fired by Israel targeting the elusive mastermind behind Hamas's terror war. However, according to top Hamas terrorist Moussa Abu Marzouk, the airstrikekilled members of Deif's family, but not the terrorist himself. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri has said that the elusive head of the terror group's "military wing", Mohammed Deif, is still "alive and well.”

That airstrike was the fifth attempt on his life by Israel. Previous strikes have left him wheelchair-bound, but reportedly still well-enough to maintain overall command of Hamas's terrorist operations.