Hamas’s deadly “phantom”: the man behind the attacks

Muhammad Deif transformed the militant group from a cluster of terrorist cells into a force capable of invading Israel

By Nicolas Pelham

A few hours after Hamas slaughtered hundreds of civilians in Israel on October 7th, the man who planned the attacks made a rare public appearance. A video broadcast on Hamas’s media channel showed a silhouette of the group’s military leader, Muhammad Deif, as a pre-recorded statement played in the background. His deep voice was strangely measured as he announced an unleashing of terror that would claim more than 1,400 lives.

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