The Media Office of the government in Dubai reported Friday the details of the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al Madbouh who was killed on January 20. Al Madbouh is an exiled leader of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.The office said in a press release publish by WAM, the official media agency in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that investigations are ongoing to track the assailants and prosecute them as soon as possible by cooperating with the Interpol.
The assailants apparently left the UAE shortly before the authorities were notified of the death of Al Madbouh at a local hotel in Dubai.
Initial investigations revealed that the crime was likely carried out by a professional criminal group that shadowed Al Madbouh even before he came to the UAE.
Official authorities said that the assailants, and despite their attention to details and accurate planning, left traces that could lead to their capture.
Al Madbouh entered the UAE on Tuesday afternoon, January 19 2010, and was staying at a hotel in Dubai. His body was located on the next day.
Member of the Political Bureau of Hamas movement, Izzat Al Rishiq, stated Friday that Israel is behind the assassination of Al Madbouh.
Al Rishiq added that Al Madbouh is the founder of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and that Israel wanted him dead for his role in the capturing and killing of two Israeli soldiers.
During the funeral of Al Madbouh in Syria, Khalid Mashal, head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, said that the movement to avenge the killing of Al Madbouh.
Mashal said that Hamas will retaliate and will, sooner or later, avenge the assassination of Al Madbouh.
The statements of Mashal came on Friday during the funeral of Al Madbouh in Damascus.
Al Madbouh is from Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip but he had been living in Syria since 1989. The 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.
