Dubai Police identify Hamas commander murder suspects

(Wam) 29 January 2010, 6:42 PM DUBAI –

Dubai Government media office has announced that Dubai police have identified suspects in the murder crime of Palestinian Hamas member Mahmoud Abdul Raouf Hassan and that they would soon track them down and refer to court in conjunction with International Police (Interpol).

The suspects were reported to have left the country before the murder crime was reported. The deceased’s body was later discovered at a hotel in Dubai.

An official security source in Dubai said that the initial investigations suggest that the murder was inflicted by experienced criminal gang, who had been tracking down the movements of the victim before entering the UAE. “Despite quick skill exhibited by murderers, yet they left behind evidence at the scene of crime that would help in tracking them down at earliest. Dubai police no longer believe in ambiguous or unknown crime”.

The source further disclosed that the investigations revealed that the suspects hold European passports, adding that Dubai police would embark in arrangements with Interpol to arrest the suspects and bring them to books. “The evidence will speedily help competent authorities to track down the suspects”.

Known as Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, the deceased, a Palestinian, entered into the UAE at 3.15PM, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, from an Arab country. His body was found the following day at afternoon on Jan. 20, 2010, at a hotel he resided at in Dubai.

Hamas: Israeli Agents Committed Assassination

Friday January 29, 2010 12:09 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Izzat Al-Rihisq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, claims Israeli agents are responsible for the death of Mahmoud Al-Madbouh on January 20th in Dubai.


Details of the incident are unknown as investigation by Hamas and authorities in the United Arab Emirates are ongoing.

Al-Jazeera news agency reported, "a brother of Al-Mabhouh said he had been killed by electric shock after an electrical appliance was held to his head."

The validity of this statement is unknown as no official comment has been issued. Israeli authorities have also refused to speak about the incident.

Al Rishiq said the body of Al-Madbouh was moved to Syria on Thursday evening for burial in Damascus after Friday prayers.

Al-Madbouh is from Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip but he had been living in Syria since 1989. The alleged assassination occurred while Madbouh was traveling through Dubai.

Al-Madbouh was one of the founders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, an armed faction of Hamas. Operations executed under the control of Al Madbouh include the kidnapping and ultimate death of Israeli corporal, Avi Saport, in 1988. The soldier was killed by his abductors after Israel refused to hold prisoner-swap talks.

On May 3, 1989, Al-Qassam fighters also kidnapped corporal Elan Sadoun and killed him after the location of his hideout was compromised.

The Hamas political party believe that Israeli agents killed Al-Madbouh for his role in abducting and killing two soldiers.

Hamas: Israel assassinated commander in Dubai

 Published today (updated) 29/01/2010 22:56

Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

Israeli agents killed a top Hamas official in Dubai last week, an official told Reuters on Friday.

The official, identified as Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, was thought to be behind the assassinations of two Israeli occupation soldiers, Avi Sasportas and Ilan Saadon, in the 1980s. He was a member of Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.

"I cannot reveal the circumstances. We are working with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates," said Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' politburo, speaking in Damascus.

Al-Rishq said he was killed on 20 January in Dubai, the day after he arrived from Syria, where he lived.

Al-Mabhouh had served as a liaison between Iran and Hamas, according to various reports, helping to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. He had been jailed several times by the Israeli occupation government, whose forces reportedly destroyed his Gaza home at some point.

"We in Hamas hold the Zionist enemy responsible for the criminal assassination of our brother, and we pledge to God and to the blood of the martyrs and to our people to continue his path of jihad and martyrdom," read a statement on a Hamas' news site.

Mesha'al vows to avenge Al-Mabhouh

Published today (updated) 29/01/2010 20:05

 Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Hamas leader in exile Khaled Mesha'al on Friday vowed to avenge the death of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, who was assassinated days earlier in Dubai, allegedly by Israeli agents.

After the funeral in Al-Yarmuk refugee camp south of Damascus, Mesha'al said "we will avenge this man. If you [Israelis] were happy for assassinating a great man who bravely assassinated your soldiers, then this happiness is going to pass.

"Don’t be so happy. We will avenge Al-Mabhouh. Do not think that we will abandon the choice of resistance. Not settlement, occupation, killing, nor the wall will weaken our resistance."

Mesha'al added: "We do not know when, but we're going to win; we are confident we will defeat you.".

Meanwhile, the information office of the government in the United Arab Emirates said that Dubai police were able to identify the suspects who killed the Hamas leader, saying they all hold European passports.

The police added that despite the fact that the apparent assassination was quick and skillful, the suspects left behind evidence that will lead to their eventual capture and arrest.

Al-Mabhouh had served as a liaison between Iran and Hamas, according to various reports, helping to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. He had been jailed several times by Israel, whose forces reportedly destroyed his Gaza home at some point.

"We in Hamas hold the Zionist enemy responsible for the criminal assassination of our brother, and we pledge to God and to the blood of the martyrs and to our people to continue his path of jihad and martyrdom," read a statement on a Hamas' news site.