Hamas' Mohammed Deif, Israel attack mastermind, reveals why he launched 9/11 like assault
Hamas last week, Mohammed Deif, the secretive mastermind behind the assault, has provided insights into the motives behind what Israel has likened to its '9/11 moment.' This revelation comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas, with the recent assault marking the most substantial breach in Israeli defenses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict.
Deif's audio message, broadcast as Hamas launched thousands of rockets from the Gaza strip on Saturday, underscores the message of retaliation for Israeli raids at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque. This mosque, a long-standing flashpoint for violence over matters of sovereignty and religion in Jerusalem, was stormed by Israeli forces in May 2021, sparking widespread anger in the Arab and Muslim world.
According to a source close to Hamas in Gaza, the decision to plan the operation, which has already claimed over 1,200 lives in Israel, was rooted in the images of Israeli forces storming Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan.
«It was triggered by scenes and footage of Israel storming Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, beating worshippers, attacking them, dragging elderly and young men out of the mosque,» the source explained. «All this fueled and ignited the anger.»
The assault on Saturday represents a turning point in the ongoing conflict, prompting Israel to declare war and launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 800 people by Tuesday.
The mastermind behind this operation, Mohammed Deif, has survived seven Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent in 2021.
