The Ezzeddine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas Resistance movement, announced Thursday the martyrdom of the faction's Commander-in-Chief, Mohammad "Abu Khaled" Deif, alongside several other senior commanders, as part of Operation al-Aqsa Flood.

Speaking in a video published through al-Qassam's official military media channels, spokesperson Abu Obeida said the announcement came "After completing all necessary procedures and addressing all security concerns imposed by the conditions of battle and the field, and after conducting the necessary verifications and taking all relevant measures."

"We announce to our great people, our nation, and all supporters of freedom and resistance around the world the martyrdom of a group of senior fighters and heroic commanders from the General Military Council of the al-Qassam Brigades," he declared.

'A constellation of martyrs'

Among the fallen leaders, Abu Obeida said, is Mohammad "Abu Khaled" Deif, the Commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades' General Staff, alongside Marwan "Abu Baraa" Issa, the Deputy Commander of the General Staff.

"This is what befits our commander Mohammed Deif, Abu Khaled, who has exhausted the enemy for more than thirty years. How, by God, could Mohammed Deif be mentioned in history without the title of martyr and the honor of martyrdom in the path of God?" Abu Obeida declared, praising the martyred leader.

For more on the martyred leader, read: Who is Mohammad Deif, the Resistance leader, bane of 'Israel'?

The statement also confirmed the deaths of Ghazi "Abu Moussa" Abu Tamaa, Head of Weapons and Combat Services; Raed "Abu Mohammad" Thabet, Head of the Manpower Division; and 
Rafe' "Abu Mohammad" Salama, Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade

"And how could Marwan Issa, the mind of al-Qassam and its unshakable pillar, die in his bed? How could Abu Musa, the wise leader of the fighters, and Raed Thabet, the towering mountain, not offer their souls for al-Aqsa?" Abu Obeida said.

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Additionally, al-Qassam had previously announced the martyrdom of Ahmad "Abu Anas" al-Ghandour, Commander of the Northern Brigade, and Ayman "Abu Ahmed" Nofal, Commander of the Central Brigade.

"How could the leaders of our brigades, Ahmad al-Ghandour, Ayman Nofal, and Rafe' Salama—not lead the ranks of thousands of their martyr fighters, sacrificing their blood after having plunged the poisoned dagger deep into the enemy’s heart in the al-Aqsa Flood?" the spokesperson said.

"May God have mercy on them and grant them His acceptance. Peace be upon their pure souls and upon all the martyrs of our people," Abu Obeida said.

Martyred on the frontlines

The spokesperson stressed that all these commanders were "martyred while advancing, not retreating, in the heart of the battle", whether in command centers, direct engagements with Israeli forces, or while overseeing the battlefield and organizing military operations.

"They achieved their desire for martyrdom in the path of God, which was their ultimate wish—a blessed conclusion to lives filled with devotion to God, and then to the cause of their freedom, their sanctities, and their land," Abu Obeida said.

"In the Ezzeddine al-Qassam Brigades, as we bid farewell to this constellation of great leaders on their journey to eternal paradise, we affirm two things," the spokesperson added. "First, these great martyred leaders have triumphed—when they fought for their faith, their homeland, and the sacred site of their Prophet, peace be upon him, and were killed in its defense, in the greatest battle our people have known in their history."

Second, Abu Obeida said, "Though we grieve our immense loss at the martyrdom of our great commanders, it has not—and will never—diminish the strength of our brigades and our resistance, by the grace and assistance of God. This is a settled matter, beyond dispute." 

Assassinations only boosted moral

He noted that the Israeli military’s targeted assassinations of resistance leaders have backfired. “Every announcement of a leader’s martyrdom had the opposite effect of what the enemy intended. Instead of weakening our fighters, it became for them a sign of victory, an inspiring example to follow. This is the secret of our strength and the unwavering spirit of our fighters—by God’s grace and support.”

Abu Obeida asserted that the Qassam leadership structure has remained intact throughout Operation al-Aqsa Flood, stating, “By God’s favor and grace, the al-Qassam leadership structure has not experienced a vacuum—not even for a single hour. The realities on the battlefield have proven this, even in the final moments of confrontation and combat.”

Honoring the fallen leaders, Abu Obeida paid tribute to Mohammed Deif, calling him the “legend of jihad and the enduring symbol of resistance,” along with his martyred comrades. He then made a vow that the resistance would continue until the uprooting of the occupation. “It is a solemn pledge that their pure and blessed blood will be a curse upon the occupier until it is removed from our land and sanctities."

Abu Obeida came to a close with verse 3:140 from the Holy Quran, saying, "If a wound should touch you - there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to it. And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself from among you martyrs - and Allah does not like the wrongdoers."

"It is a jihad—victory or martyrdom," he concluded.