In the sweltering heat of a Gaza summer, an elderly beggar sat motionless near an apartment building, his weathered hands outstretched. Nearby, a vegetable vendor hawked his wares, carefully arranging produce as his eyes scanned the street. These seemingly ordinary figures were, in fact, the lynchpins of one of Israel's most daring intelligence operations to date.
Their target: Mohammed Deif, the shadowy mastermind behind Hamas' brutal October 7 attack on Israel.
For three decades, Deif had outmaneuvered assassins and missiles, earning the moniker "Master of Camouflage." But on July 13, 2024, his luck finally ran out.
Here are newly unveiled details of the operation that brought down Hamas' most feared commander, revealing a mission that blended high-tech surveillance with old-school espionage.
The Hunt Begins
Israeli intelligence had long known of Deif's existence, but pinpointing his location had proven nearly impossible. The breakthrough came when agents noticed a perplexing change in Deif's behavior. The man who had survived by constantly moving had begun making regular visits to the al-Mawasi tent complex, home to thousands of displaced Gazans.
"It was almost too good to be true," an unnamed Israeli intelligence official said. "We checked and double-checked. This was the opening we'd been waiting for."
Fauda Comes to Life
Israel's legendary Duvdevan unit, immortalized in the hit TV series Fauda, sprang into action. Operatives infiltrated the camp under various guises – aid workers, religious figures, and local merchants. Their mission: to gather intelligence and confirm Deif's patterns.
The operation's linchpins were two agents placed in plain sight. One posed as a vegetable vendor, strategically positioned outside Deif's suspected meeting place. The other, disguised as an elderly beggar, maintained a constant vigil nearby.
"These operatives were our eyes and ears," the intelligence official explained. "They blended in perfectly, becoming part of the landscape."
The Waiting Game
On the morning of July 13, word spread through the camp: Deif was coming. Israel's security cabinet quickly greenlit the operation. Two fighter jets took to the skies, maintaining a holding pattern high above Gaza for seven grueling hours.
A Last-Minute Complication
As the operation entered its critical phase, Israeli pilots detected suspicious movements of armed Hamas operatives near the team's planned escape route. In a testament to the mission's flexibility, commanders quickly devised a new exfiltration plan. The undercover agents would now head to the nearby Mediterranean coast for extraction by an IDF vessel.
"It was a reminder that in operations like these, adaptability is key," a senior IDF official commented.
The Strike
At last, Deif was spotted entering the building. The undercover team calmly made their way to the shore, blending in with beachgoers. Within minutes, precision-guided munitions rained down on the target.
The first strike decimated the building. A second salvo created a ring of fire, preventing any rescue attempts. Finally, a bunker-busting missile penetrated deep underground, where intelligence suggested Deif might attempt to hide.
The Aftermath
It would take two weeks for Israel to confirm Deif's death, his body buried under layers of rubble. His deputy, Rafa Salama, was also killed in the strike.
The elimination of Deif represents a significant blow to Hamas' leadership and operational capabilities.
As Gaza reels from months of conflict, the successful mission against Deif may mark a turning point. Intercepted communications reveal growing discontent among Gazans with Hamas' leadership. "They killed Deif! Inshallah, they will kill Sinwar too," one Gazan merchant was overheard saying, referring to another top Hamas leader.
The ghost of Gaza may be gone, but the shadows of war continue to loom over the region. For Israel, the hunt for those behind October 7 goes on – no matter how long it takes or how far they must go.
* The Jewish Chronicle contributed to this article.