Mohammad Deif: The Engineer of Operation Al Aqsa Storm  

Mohammad Deif, born Mohammad Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in 1965 in Khan Younis, Gaza, was a long-standing military commander of Hamas and the mastermind of the organization's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, his family was forcibly relocated from the village of al-Qubaiba, where he was raised.

Deif, a biology graduate from the Islamic University of Gaza, became a member of Hamas at its inception in 1987. He was subsequently imprisoned for 16 months for his involvement with the organization's military branch. He assisted in the establishment of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed faction, following his release. He assumed leadership following the 2002 assassination of Salah Shehadeh.  

Hamas's military strategy was significantly influenced by Deif's contributions to the development of its sophisticated explosives and extensive tunnel network. Israel targeted him for assassination on numerous occasions; however, he survived at least seven attempts, despite suffering grievous injuries and losing an eye.

His wife, infant son, and daughter were killed in one of the most lethal assassinations of 2014. He maintained his enigmatic status, garnering the moniker "The Man with Nine Lives" as a result of his capacity to evade capture or assassination.  

Deif, which was designated as a high-priority target by Israel and its allies, was included on the U.S. blacklist in 2015 and the EU's terrorist list in 2023. He was identified by Israeli intelligence as the mastermind behind Operation Al Aqsa Storm, the most significant escalation between Hamas and Israel in years.

His reputation as one of Hamas's most clandestine and formidable figures in the conflict was further solidified by his leadership in the planning and execution of attacks.