Israel said it targeted Hamas' top military leader in an airstrike Saturday, killing at least 90 people and wounding over 300 others, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry; the agency does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Mohammed Deif is one of a few people Israel has named as architects of the group's Oct. 7 attacks, and the second-in-command to Hamas' top official in Gaza. The airstrike took place in al-Mawasi, an area along Gaza's western coast Israel had declared a humanitarian zone. Israel accuses Hamas of establishing a compound in the zone and says another high-level commander was killed in the strike. Hamas denied Deif was present, dismissing the claim as justification for the deadly strike.
Deif's status was unclear as of this writing. The news comes as Hamas and Israel are considering a US-proposed cease-fire deal. Hamas says it has not withdrawn from cease-fire talks following the strike.
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