News - Middle East: The spokesman for the Government in Sana'a, Minister of Information Hashem Ahmed Sharaf Al-Din, expressed his deepest condolences and profound sympathy over the martyrdom of the heroic commander Mohammed Deif, Chief of Staff of Al-Qassam Brigades, along with several of his fellow military council members.

"From the heart of Yemen, where the spirit of jihad and resistance shines, we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of the martyred commander Mohammed Deif, to the families of his fellow martyrs, to the esteemed leadership of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, and to the Palestinian people on the martyrdom of the great commander Mohammed Deif and several of his comrades from the military council," Sharaf Al-Din stated.

He also congratulated Deif and his companions on their martyrdom, saying, "Commander Mohammed Deif dedicated his life to the noble cause of liberating Palestine. Like him, his comrades remained steadfast in their commitment to jihad against the Israeli enemy, brutal occupation, and terrorist aggression. Their names will remain etched in the annals of Palestinian and Arab history as heroes of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle."

The Minister of Information continued, "While we mourn the loss of this noble leader, we find solace in knowing that his legacy will continue to inspire generations of Palestinians in their perseverance for freedom, justice, and dignity."

"We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Hamas movement during these difficult times. We reaffirm our unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and our commitment to defending the rights of the Palestinian people," the spokesman for the Government concluded. 

On Thursday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, announced the martyrdom of several of its military council leaders in the battle against the Israeli invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip, including its chief of staff Mohammed Deif.

Chief of al-Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida on Thursday also confirmed the death of deputy military commander Marwan Issa in combat.

Other commanders killed in the battle included Ghazi Abu Tama’a, the commander of weapons and combat services, Raed Thabet, the commander of manpower and head of supplies unit, and Rafeh Salama, the commander of the Khan Younis Brigade.

Ahmed al-Ghandour, the commander of the Northern Brigade, and Ayman Nofal, the commander of the Central Brigade, were the other high-profile Hamas members killed in combat. 

Mohammad 'Abu Khaled' Deif, known for his elusiveness, had survived at least seven attempts on his life by Israel. He had been a key figure in orchestrating military operations against Israel.

Media outlets had reported Deif’s death, but the announcement Thursday is the first official acknowledgment from Hamas of the senior leader’s demise.

Israel initially announced in August 2024 that Deif had been killed in a July airstrike, but his death had not been confirmed since.

Chief of al-Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida said the announcement came only after completing necessary procedures, addressing security concerns dictated by battlefield conditions and verifying details.

He noted that the group had previously announced the deaths of Ghandour and Nofal during Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip.