Netanyahu: ‘Not absolutely certain’ that Deif killed, but Israel will get to all Hamas leaders

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it “is not absolutely certain” that Hamas terror chief Muhammad Deif and his deputy Rafa’a Salameh were eliminated in today’s IDF strike in Gaza.

But “one way or another,” he promises, Israel will eliminate all of the Hamas leadership.

Speaking at a press conference at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu says he approved the strike once he was satisfied that there were no hostages in the area, and once he had received satisfactory information on the likely extent of the collateral damage and the nature of the munitions to be used.

“The State of Israel, through the IDF and the Shin Bet, attacked in Gaza with the goal of eliminating Muhamamed Deif and his deputy Rafah Salameh,” he begins.

“It is still not absolutely certain if the two were taken out, but I want to promise you that one way or another we will get to the entire Hamas leadership. Muhammed Deif is the arch-murderer, the Hamas chief of staff, number two in the chain of command. Deif is the architect and leader of the massacre on October 7, and of many other terror attacks. His hands are dripping in the blood of many Israelis.

“Last night at midnight, when the head of the Shin Bet presented me with the details of the operation, I wanted to know three things,” he says. “Firstly, I wanted to know that according to the intelligence, there were no hostages in their surroundings. Second, I wanted to know the extent of collateral damage. And third, I asked to know the types of weapons [to be used in the strike] When I got answers that put my mind at ease, I gave my blessing for the action and I said good luck.

“This success will free the Middle East and the entire world of many of these murderers. Both places will be much better,” he says.