Yes, Israel targeted Mohammed Deif

The JPost is reporting that the 'Palestinians' are accusing Israel of attempting to assassinate Ezzadein al-Qassam brigades commander Mohammed Deif (center) on Tuesday night.

Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk charged on Wednesday after Gaza truce talks collapsed in a spasm of violence that Israel had targeted the group's armed wing leader Muhammad Deif in one of its air strikes on Tuesday in the coastal territory.

The Israeli military would not specify any of the targets of some 30 attacks across Gaza in response to rocket fire aimed at Israel. Marzouk said Israel had ruptured the truce alleging it was in order "to assassinate Muhammad Deif," but that civilians were killed at the site of the attack.

Palestinian health officials said three people were killed in a strike on a house in Gaza City, including a child and a woman. The third victim was not identified.

Israeli media said Israel had been targeting another leading Hamas militant in charge of rocket fire, but did not know whether or not he had survived the attack.

Deif is certainly a legitimate military target, and if he uses his home as a command post (which is likely), his home is also a legitimate military target.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that two civilians were killed in the strike - Deif's wife and daughter.

"The wife of the great leader was martyred with his daughter," in a strike on Tuesday night, Hamas' exiled deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouk wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

He said nothing about the fate of Mr Deif himself. He said Israel had been looking for "an excuse to target a big Hamas leader".

Palestinian emergency services revised an earlier report of three killed in the strike on a large house in the city's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood and said the victims were a woman and a two-year-old girl.

...

Mr Deif was appointed head of Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in 2002 after the death of his predecessor Salah Shehade in a raid.

Mr Deif had survived at least five previous Israeli attempts to kill him.

Shehadeh managed to take 14 civilians with him when he was killed.

The IDF is now confirming that it did target Deif.

An Israeli diplomatic source confirmed Wednesday morning to Walla! that Israel tried overnight to eliminate Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas's "military wing," the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas has claimed that five bunker-buster bombs were fired by Israel targeting the elusive mastermind behind Hamas's terror war.

...

While Deif's condition is currently unknown, local health officials quoted by Reuters said three people were killed in a strike on a house in Gaza City, including a child and a woman, possibly Deif's wife and daughter. The third death was not identified, leaving speculation open that the IAF may in fact have hit its mark.

Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) commented on the latest attempt to end Deif's life; the terrorist leader has until now evaded five IDF assassination attempts, losing both of his legs in one airstrike.

Deif "is exactly like (former Al Qaeda leader Osama) Bin Laden," appraised Sa'ar, speaking to Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio). "This is an arch-murderer. Where there is an operational opportunity to eliminate him - it must be taken."

Note that the Arutz Sheva report - published an hour ago - is four hours later than the Sydney Morning Herald report.

Hmmm.

P.S. Why can't we use bunker busters to target the bunker under Shifa Hospital the same way?