The recent devastating attack by Hamas is being likened by Israel to its own 9/11 moment. The mastermind behind this operation, Palestinian militant Mohammed Deif, dubs it the “Al Aqsa Flood.”
This term emerged in an audio tape broadcast by Hamas during the intense rocket barrage from Gaza. The attack is seen as retribution for Israeli actions at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque, a site of deep religious and political significance.
The seeds of this operation were sown in May 2021, following an Israeli raid on the mosque, which incited widespread anger and protests in the Arab and Muslim world. This event, which saw Israeli forces storming the holy site during Ramadan, played a pivotal role in sparking the subsequent 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Fast forward to the recent assault, which marks the most significant breach in Israeli defenses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. It compelled Israel to declare war and retaliate with airstrikes on Gaza, resulting in a significant loss of life and casualties.
Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military chief, is a figure shrouded in secrecy. He rarely speaks in public, making any public statement of his a significant event. There are only a few images of him in existence, all either heavily veiled or shadowed. Deif’s exact whereabouts remain unknown, but it’s suspected he operates from the intricate network of tunnels beneath Gaza.
The decision to prepare for this attack was a joint effort between Deif and Yehya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. However, Deif was clearly the chief architect. The operation was kept under tight wraps, with even Iran, a major supporter of Hamas, having limited knowledge of the specifics.
Deif, whose real name is Mohammad Masri, has been at the forefront of Hamas’s armed wing for years, earning him a place at the top of Israel’s most-wanted list. He’s survived multiple assassination attempts, losing an eye and sustaining serious injuries in one leg in the process. His survival and leadership have made him a symbolic figure for many Palestinians. Deif remains an elusive figure, shunning modern technology and maintaining a life in the shadows.
