Israel's News & Views BlogHamas Deputy Political Bureau Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk is accusing the Mossad of the January 20 assassination of Hamas founder and military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
The Hamas statement released from Damascus on Friday failed to mention how the assassination was actually carried out. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was responsible for the kidnappings of IDF solders Ilan Sa’adon and Avi Sasportas more than twenty years ago.
The arch-terrorist’s body arrived in Damascus Thursday night after he was found dead on January 20 in Dubai, where he was serving as a representative of the Hamas military wing abroad. Al-Mabhouh had been expelled from Israel in 1989 for involvement in terrorist activities.
Hamas has announced that it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death and that the Islamic terrorist group is working closely with local authorities to catch who they believe to be an agent of the Israeli Mossad.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told mourners in a eulogy in the northern Gaza region that the slain terrorist was the first to plan the act of abducting Israeli soldiers.
Both Avi Sasportas and Ilan Sa’adon were kidnapped and killed during the year 1989 by Hamas fighters loyal to al-Mabhouh. Sasportas was kidnapped at the Hedaya junction while on his way home to Ashdod. He was shot in the head and then buried on the side of the road. Three months later, Sa’adon was captured at a junction near Kiryat Malachi. The day after searches began for Sa’adon, the body of Sasportas was discovered. Sa’adon’s body was found seven years later buried eight meters deep under a paved road south of Rishon L’Tzion.
Hamas insists that the Mossad is responsible, and headlines declare Israel’s hand in the assassination. Hamas vows revenge but
Israel has not yet commented.
Post a Comment