The footage of Mohammed Deif reveals the depth of blindness in Israel

An Al Jazeera investigation reveals rare footage of Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas's military wing, proving that Israeli intelligence underestimated his functional capacity. The videos show Deif briefing senior officials and convening a command meeting in a tunnel, illustrating the depth of the intelligence failure that led to October 7.

Over the past weekend, Al Jazeera broadcast an extensive investigative report on Mohammed Deif, who headed Hamas's military wing. The report, titled "Much is Hidden than Revealed," includes rare and exclusive footage obtained from Hamas – from his days as an amateur theater actor in Khan Younis to the days leading up to October 7. Despite Al Jazeera's clear bias, presenting Deif as a heroic figure, the investigation reveals how much Israeli intelligence erred in underestimating Deif's functional capacity. For years, the Israeli security establishment reported that Deif had very limited physical function and an unclear cognitive state. The videos prove that Deif was the mind and spirit behind the October 7 massacre. In one video, he is seen briefing Abu Ubaida, Mohammed Odeh, and Raafat Salama, instructing them to focus on attacking the Gaza Division headquarters near Re'im. This plan was almost fully implemented. In another video, Deif is seen convening the senior command staff of the military wing in a tunnel – a meeting likely held in 2020 or 2021, attended by all forum members who have since been eliminated. The report also includes a recording of a phone call between Deif and Yahya Sinwar at the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, in which Deif informed Sinwar of a ceasefire. Operation Guardian of the Walls was identified in the report as the starting point of the flawed concept regarding Hamas. The article notes that it is likely that the IDF and Shin Bet are analyzing every frame of the investigation.