Netanyahu says he is 'not absolutely certain' that Deif was killed in Israeli strike that killed 90 in Gaza

As the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continues to intensify, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was not yet “absolutely certain” as to whether Hamas’s most senior military commander Muhammad Deif had been killed in the recent airstrike.

While addressing a press conference at the Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu lauded the handling of the war by the country’s military. Despite expressing uncertainty about Deif, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel is “winning the war”. He noted that the “cracks” and “weakness” of the Palestinian terror group are now more evident, The Times of Israel reported.

“It is still not absolutely certain if the two were taken out, but I want to promise you that one way or another we will get to the entire Hamas leadership,” said Netanyahu at the beginning of the press conference, referring to Deif and Salameh.

He also claimed that the attack on Deif along with other strikes on Hamas commanders were only possible due to his refusal to end the campaign until all the aims of the war in achieved.

‘Still a way to go to obtain victory’: Netanyahu

While standing by his decision to continue with Israel’s ongoing operation in Gaza, the Israeli premier insisted that there is still “a way to go” to obtain victory. However, he insisted that it was possible with “unity, determination and faith in the justice of our cause.” Earlier this year, the prime minister said on several occasions that Israel was just “a step away” from victory.

The press briefing came after Deif, together with his deputy Rafa’a Salameh, was targeted in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. They were reportedly present in the above-ground building between the al-Mawasi designated humanitarian zone and the city of Khan Younis.

Deif has been one of the most prominent targets of Israel after the October 7 attack by Hamas rocked the Jewish nations killing 1,200 Israelis. “Muhammed Deif is the chief murderer, Hamas’s chief of staff, number two in the chain of command. Deif is the architect and leader of the massacre on October 7 and of many other terror attacks. His hands are dripping in the blood of many Israelis,” the Israeli premier said while recalling the atrocities committed by Deif.

Netanyahu also made it clear that he approved the strike only after he was satisfied that there were no hostages in the area. Meanwhile, Khalil Al-Hayya, the deputy leader of Hamas, denied Deif was dead. “We say to [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu that Muhammad Deif is listening to you right now and mocking your lies,” Al-Hayya told Al Jazeera on Saturday.

During the press conference, the Israeli Prime Minister also addressed criticism over how his administration handled the hostage negotiations. He said that abductees were “at the top of our thoughts at all times and in every decision we make.” He went on to mention that Hamas had sought 29 changes to the deal, which he said he had totally rejected, The Times of Israel reported.

“I turn to you, families of the dear hostages: I know how much you are suffering from uncertainty but I would like to tell you one thing that is certain: We will not give up on anyone and we will do everything to return them all,” Netanyahu exclaimed, reacting to the demonstrations conducted by the families of the hostages.