Hamas Confirms Death of Military Chief Mohammed Deif and Deputy Marwan Issa**

Hamas officially acknowledges the deaths of military chief Mohammed Deif and deputy Marwan Issa, both targeted in Israeli operations linked to the recent escalation in violence.**

Hamas has officially announced the death of its military chief, Mohammed Deif, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip last year. This confirmation comes after Israel's military declared in August that Deif had been eliminated the previous month, a statement that Hamas had not verified until recently.

Israel attributes significant responsibility for the October 7 attacks in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others, to Deif. He was considered the second-highest ranking official in Hamas in Gaza, working under Yahya Sinwar, the group's overall leader, who also died last year due to Israeli forces' actions.

In addition to the confirmation of Deif's death, Hamas has announced the passing of Marwan Issa, a deputy military commander. The United States previously reported Issa's death in March of last year, highlighting his status as one of the most-wanted figures by Israel. The European Union, which has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, directly linked Issa to the October 7 attacks.

As the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, these developments underscore the ongoing conflict and the broader implications for Israeli-Palestinian relations.