'No certainty' Hamas commander was killed in Gaza: Netanyahu
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Earlier today, Israeli forces claimed to have killed a high-ranking commander in the Palestinian Resistance.
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Palestinians inspect the damage at a site hit by an Israeli bombardment on Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 13, 2024 (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that there is "no certainty" within the Israeli leadership that the general commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Muhammad al-Deif, was assassinated in a strike that killed dozens causing a massacre of civilians.
"Israel attacked Gaza today in an attempt to eliminate Mohammed Deif and his deputy, Rafa Salama. There is no certainty that the two were eliminated," Netanyahu told reporters.
"This war will end when all objectives are accomplished," he added.
Netanyahu insisted on the continuous Israeli control of the Philadelphia axis and the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Despite not achieving any Israeli-proclaimed goal, Netanyahu claimed, for an unknown reason, that the Israelis were close to victory.
Earlier today, Israeli forces claimed to have killed a high-ranking commander in the Palestinian Resistance. It was believed that Commander al-Deif was hit in the al-Mawasi camp, which is a designated safe zone in southern Gaza.
Shortly after, a reliable source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that Commander al-Deif is well, noting that the Israeli allegations about his injury are baseless.
In a statement, the Resistance clarified that the purpose of such allegations is to cover up the horrific massacre committed by the Israeli occupation in Khan Younis.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri confirmed to Reuters earlier that the report broadcast by the Israeli occupation's Army Radio, stating that a raid on Khan Younis targeted the general commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, is "nonsense."
He further noted that "all the martyrs are civilians," stressing that "what is happening is a dangerous escalation of genocide amid American support and global silence," and further noted that the massacre is a practical message from the occupation indicating that it "is not interested in any agreement."
Read more: Resistance will not submit to Israeli conditions: Hamas
On the 28th day of the war on Gaza, Gaza's health authorities reported that heavy bombardment in Khan Younis' al-Mawasi area led to at least 70 deaths and numerous injuries, with over 100 casualties reported so far.
The Ministry of Health stressed that Gaza's healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed and that rescue workers are still working to retrieve bodies from the rubble, and many of the injured are in critical condition.
