Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal. Photo: Trango.

JNS.org – Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said in a Vanity Fairinterview published Tuesday that the terrorist organization’s military wing commander, Mohammed Deif, is still alive, having survived the Israeli assassination attempt during Operation Protective Edge this summer.

“Mohammed Deif is alive,” Mashaal said. “Israelis failed to kill him. But they succeeded in killing his wife and his two children. … Mohammed Deif is still alive, and will continue to fight the Israeli aggression and occupation. Inshallah [God willing].”

Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz surmised that Deif remains alive in a recent interview with Israel Hayom.

“You know, there is meat, there is milk and there is parve,” he said. “Sometimes there are signs that the man exists, and sometimes there are indications that he does not exist. In my opinion, he is still with us.”