Thread: Mahmoud al-Mabhouh Assassination

Well, it's been suggested that if the culprit wasn't Mossad, the hit squad may have been hired--"mercenaries", for lack of a better word. The disguises and coordination were certainly fairly sophisticated, but as for electrocution and suffocation, all that takes is a stun gun and a pillow or a plastic bag (which in fact is one of the methods that's been suggested to explain how he died). Although there have also been reports that he was electrocuted using the wiring from one of the room's lamps. Until a detailed cause of death is known I guess we can't say for sure.

While I hear what you're saying--Mossad definitely has the motive and capability--I don't think there's enough evidence right now to support the claim that any other explanation is ludicrous. Because that basically means claiming that no-one else in the world has the motive and capability, which is far from certain at this point. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be Mossad but right now the evidence is circumstantial. I think a lot of people in the Arab world (and the world in general) are making the same assumption you are simply because so many people in the Arab world think that the sinister Zionist conspiracy is behind every bad thing that happens.

Originally Posted by mrbazoun

Prior to this assassination, it seemed as though Hamas leaders were a dime a dozen, dying left and right.

Yeah but most of them just get creamed by a Hellfire missile while they're sitting in their house/driving down the street in Gaza. The ones that happen in other countries do tend to attract more attention for obvious reasons, since they necessarily involve Israeli agents operating illegally in foreign states, which makes them automatic international incidents. Not just this one; others that happened outside Israel/Palestine (Mughniyah, and especially the Mashal attempt) have attracted similarly high levels of attention. The theatrical spy-novel aspects of this one, as with the Mashal attempt, increase international interest too.

Originally Posted by mrbazoun

] I'm pretty surprised at all the media coverage this has gotten. Prior to this assassination, it seemed as though Hamas leaders were a dime a dozen, dying left and right.

I feel you answered your own question here:

The only reason this is grabbing so much media attention is because it happened in Dubai, and for good reason the ruler of Dubai feels like making a deal of this.

Even though Syme pretty much summed it, I'll add that the UAE, and Dubai in particular, is the one place in the Middle East where things like this aren't suppose to happen. Perhaps that explains the carelessness with which al-Mabhouh prepared his trip (ordering his tickets online, telephoning his family in Gaza about his trip). It's almost as shocking as the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in London for this reason as well as the reasons Syme stated.

In addition, even though relations between Israel and the UAE have been "icy," to say the least, as far as I'm aware this is the closest thing to an incursion that Israel has committed against them.

And even though this may or may not be why this story is prominent in the media, Dubai was also hit disproportionately hard by the economic crisis. Not too long after the crisis hit, they even have had to turn to Abu-Dhabi for assistance. Though I cannot guess what impact it will really have in the end, this can't be good for the city's image.