Unmasking El Deif: Exposing the Mastermind Behind the Hamas Attack

With a strange sense of regret upon reflection, I must acknowledge that Hamas once came to my rescue, preventing my abduction in Gaza. Despite their involvement in heinous acts such as massacres, kidnappings, and the manipulation of innocent civilians, this militant group thwarted an Islamist gang just moments before they intended to seize me from the Hotel Deira in the northern region of Gaza back in 2008.

With hushed efficiency, Hamas intelligence officers swarmed the hotel. No shots were fired.

The kidnap gang, diverted from its mission, blew up the nearby British Council offices in a fit of pique.

The previous description of Hamas was of an extremist organization, known for its violent actions against Israelis and its persistent goal of dismantling the state of Israel. However, Hamas was also known as a political Islamic movement with a strong reputation for effectiveness and honesty in the Arab world. Nonetheless, it operated with cynicism, utilizing violence and promoting a cult of martyrdom.

During the second Intifada in 2000, Israeli troops resorted to live fire against both armed militants and unarmed civilians throughout the Palestinian territories. In response, Hamas carried out multiple suicide bombings and disturbingly celebrated the deaths of Palestinian children as martyrs. One particular instance took place in a clandestine gathering in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in early 2001, where Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, hardly able to speak audibly, communicated to me through a translator who understood his faint utterances.

The founder of Hamas, who was in a wheelchair since childhood, asserted that while Israelis valued life, their focus on martyrdom for their children was something we embraced. It was seen as every mother's desire for her child. Tragically, a few weeks later, he was killed by Israelis.

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the Islamic militant movement Hamas, prays in Gaza City September 6, 2003.

As Hamas gained control of Gaza, their intense combination of victimhood and passion for martyrdom remained intact, growing even stronger. This was evident as they put the lives of Gaza's residents at risk by provoking Israeli air raids and ground invasions through their attacks.

The Hamas approach has been marked by alternating cycles of violence and peace, depending on the dominance of its military or civilian factions.

A prominent member of the Hamas military wing staunchly opposed any form of peace with what Hamas refers to as the "Zionist Entity."

Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, also known as El Deif, has earned the nickname "the Guest" due to his practice of staying in various houses every night to avoid detection and assassination by Israel. Currently, he holds the position of commander for Hamas' military wing, the Al Qassem Brigades. Despite his involvement, El Deif remains relatively unknown to the average Palestinian, as noted by Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al Azah University in Gaza.

"He is akin to a ghost for most Palestinians," he stated.

The Al Qassem Brigades displayed their opposition towards the peace process advocated by Yassir Arafat, the former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the 1993 Oslo Accords which were intended to facilitate the creation of a two-state solution, with a new Palestine coexisting peacefully with Israel.

Members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, seen in a gathering on January 31, 2016.

El Deif, a skilled bomb maker, orchestrated a series of four suicide attacks in 1996. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 65 individuals in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other locations, as well as other acts aimed at sabotaging the peace process.

After winning the Palestinian elections in 2006, Hamas took control of Gaza from their rivals Fatah in 2007. Consequently, Israel and Egypt imposed stricter measures on the enclave, home to approximately 2 million individuals.

To numerous Palestinians, Hamas serves as a preferable alternative to the Palestinian Authority (PA) that is predominantly led by Fatah and the larger Palestine Liberation Organization. Despite governing solely in the West Bank, the PA continues to provide salaries for the public sector in Gaza. Recent surveys during the summer indicated that support for the PA in Gaza, despite its limited jurisdiction, stood at approximately 70%.

Support for Hamas in Gaza has seldom exceeded 50%. As for private discussions, it's challenging to come across individuals who wholeheartedly support Hamas' military operations. However, few are willing to openly criticize and potentially face arrest.

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Homemade rockets and modified AK-47s: An annotated look at Hamas' deadly arsenal

Israel's policies regarding the West Bank, including the continuous expansion of illegal Jewish settlements across the occupied territories, the dispute over access to the al Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem, and the stalled attempts to establish a feasible two-state solution, have provided Hamas with the opportunity to exploit grievances. Within the densely populated enclave known as the "biggest prison in the world," Hamas has easily recruited volunteers due to the increasing control exerted by Israel and Egypt over Gaza's borders. As a consequence, Hamas and other groups have intensified their military efforts in response.

Rockets occupy a prominent position, developing from primitive beginnings to undergo significant refinement with the assistance of Iran over the course of several years. The Tehran theocracy, committed to eliminating the Jewish state, provided training to engineers, facilitated technology transfers, and led the advancements towards the creation of rockets capable of targeting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Israel relentlessly pursued individuals like El Deif, the proficient creators and influential figures behind explosive devices.

In 2014, a targeted airstrike resulted in the tragic demise of his wife and daughter. El Deif himself endured severe injuries, losing both an arm and a leg, as well as suffering hearing impairment. Undoubtedly, this tragic incident further fueled his animosity towards Israel.

However, his emotions were infused with fervent cunning. The initial and utmost trickery was to alter Israel's perception of Hamas.

Over the past couple of years, under El Deif's leadership, Hamas diligently attempted to persuade Israel that its priority lied in domestic matters, such as the reconstruction of Gaza, the facilitation of work permits for individuals seeking employment in Israel, and the advancement of its own infrastructure.

"The Israelis have perceived that, over time, Hamas has been associated with these policies rather than projecting a desire for a military confrontation with Israel," states Abusada, the professor from Gaza.

Israelis in Rehovot near Tel Aviv take cover from incoming rockets from the Gaza Strip on October 13, 2023.

Dor Kedmi/AP

Meanwhile, Hamas secretly orchestrated a large-scale attack to dispel any notion, both within Israel and abroad, that the Islamic Resistance had lost its strategic prowess. Playing a crucial role in this transformation was Yahya Sinwar, a prominent figure in Hamas' military faction. Having previously led the Al Qassem brigades, he now serves as the leader of Hamas in Gaza.

He concentrated his efforts on establishing strong diplomatic ties with key foreign nations, notably Egypt and Iran.

The recent Hamas attack on Israel marks the most significant military defeat for Israel since 1973. During that time, Syria and Egypt launched an unexpected offensive on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday. Despite initially gaining ground, the Arab forces were ultimately repelled as Israel mounted a resilient defense.

Israel is currently amassing its troops along the border with Gaza and in the northern region, where it encounters Hezbollah, supported by Iran, across the fence in Lebanon.

What will be the ultimate outcome for Hamas from this costly risk? According to Karim von Hippel, the director of the London-based Royal United Services Institute, "they might have meticulously strategized this move over the years, carefully considering their options, as previous attempts have proven futile."

"But certainly this is not going to work either. I think this will spell the end of Hamas."

That may be a zero-sum option that not even the shadowy El Deif had guessed at.

Additional reporting by CNNs Lauren Kent.