The strike, which the Israeli military says targeted a Hamas leader, took place in an area designated as a humanitarian zone.
Earlier assassination attempts against Mr. Deif are believed to have left him disabled, and he may be missing an eye and limbs.
They became more confident that Mr. Deif might enter Mr. Salameh’s compound after a growing cache of evidence suggested that he placed unusual trust in his subordinate.
The official, Khalil al-Hayya, who lives in exile, said in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic that Mr. Deif was listening to Mr. Netanyahu’s words and “mocking” them.
Mr. Netanyahu himself, in a televised news conference on Saturday night, said there was still no “absolute certainty” that Mr. Deif had been killed.
Persons:
Israel, Muhammad Deif, Deif, Shin, Rafa Salameh, Khan Younis, Salameh’s, Salameh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Izzat, Rishq, Mkhaimar Abusada, ”, Scott Anderson, Anderson, Khalil al, Netanyahu, Bet, Isabel Kershner
Organizations:
Hamas, The New York Times, Israel Defense Forces, Analysts, Gaza’s Al, Azhar University, Fatah, Gaza Health Ministry, Al
Locations:
Gaza, Israel, U.S, Khan, Rafa Salameh ., Al Jazeera, Jerusalem