Hamas' military wing has confirmed the assassination of Chief of Staff Mohammed Deif, months after Israel said it killed him in Gaza during a summer airstrike.

Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, on Thursday confirmed the killing of its military leader Mohammed Deif and deputy military commander Marwan Issa in combat.

After many months of keeping silent on the matter, Hamas announced the death of seven of the organization’s senior leaders, including longtime military commander Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri, commonly known as Muhammad Deif.