Israel Matzav

Hamas terrorist Al-Mabhouh was filmed shortly before his death

On Friday, I reported on the mysterious death in Dubai of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the Hamas terrorist who was behind the kidnapping and murders of IDF soldiers Ilan Sa'adon and Avi Sassportas in the late 1980's. Now comes word that Hamas videotaped al-Mabhouh talking about his role in those kidnappings shortly before his death, and al-Mabhouh was not too pleased about it.

According to the reports, based on testimony from a close friend of the assassinated leader, the senior Hamas figure feared for his life in recent weeks. Apparently, Al-Mabhouh told his friend just before leaving Syria to Dubai, that he suspected there were strange activities going on around him, even in his office in Damascus

The same source said that recently Al-Mabhouh had been very annoyed by pressure from Hamas leaders who urged him to be filmed relating his part in the kidnap of the two IDF soldiers, Aviv Sasportas and Ilan Saadon.

Al-Mabhouh refused to be filmed, claiming that he was wanted by Israel for this affair, and that if the film was released, it would goad the Israeli security services to act. He feared that it would cause increased efforts on Israel's part to locate him and assassinate him.

However, according to the same unnamed friend, the Hamas leadership insisted that the film was vital for the organization. Leaders even promised that his face would be blurred and that the film would remain in the movement's military archives.

Al-Mabhouh was irritable and tense in the last weeks, because he discovered that the film crew had failed to follow security protocols and that his face was clearly visible in the footage. They also failed to hide signs that would reveal his whereabouts.

Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:03 AM