THE attack by Hamas on Israel was masterminded by a shadowy figure who has survived seven assassination attempts and has been dubbed the new Osama Bin Laden.

Mohammed Deif has been Israel’s Most Wanted Man for decades.

Attempts to kill the 58-year-old have claimed both his hands and legs and an eye, leaving him permanently confined to a wheelchair.

He survives by hiding out in Gaza’s underground tunnel network — which he helped plan — or moving to new safe houses every night.

There is only one picture of him.

Born in a refugee camp, he even changed his name to Deif — which means “The Guest” in Arabic — to reflect his constant moves from house to house.

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He was born Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri in Gaza in 1965.

As commander of the al-Qassam brigades, Hamas’s military wing, he released a recording as his fighters were flooding into Israel to kill or kidnap men, women and children.

He urged Palestinians to “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls”.

And he called on followers in other countries to join the fight, sparking fears of a multi-national insurgency.

Mkhaimar Abusada, professor of politics at Gaza’s Al-Azhar University, said he will be “like a god to the young” after the assault.

He added: “He is exactly like Bin Laden. This is an arch-murderer.”