Israel targets Hamas' leader in Gaza. Who is he and what it means for war?

Israel on Saturday said it tried to assassinate Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of the Hamas group's military wing who has long topped the country's most-wanted list.

The strike took place in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, killing at least 90 Palestinians and wounding nearly 300 more, according to local health officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was still not absolutely certain whether Deif and another target of the strike, Rafa Salama, were killed. He also told a news conference that Hamas' entire leadership is marked for death.

Here is a closer look at Hamas' elusive military leader and what his death could mean for the trajectory of the war.

Who is Mohammed Deif ?

Deif was among the founders of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, in the 1990s and has led the unit for over 20 years. Israel has identified him and Hamas' Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar, as the chief architects of the Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 people i