KUALA LUMPUR: The killing of 35-year-old Palestinian lecturer Dr Fadi M.R. Albatsh had all the hallmarks of a Mossad assassination, according to an Israeli investigative journalist.
Ronen Bergman told Al Jazeera yesterday that the assassination appeared to be well-planned and executed, a professional hit which was likely carried out by the Israeli intelligence agency.
He said in most of the assassinations carried out by Mossad, the agents involved would use motorcycles as this would allow them more freedom of movement in escaping.
Bergman also said that in each case, the agent responsible for carrying out the hit would fire many shots at the target to ensure that he or she is killed.
Such was the case in Fadi’s killing, as one of the two men on the motorcycle fired at least 20 shots, 14 of which hit the Palestinian.
“Based on the way Fadi was killed, it is similar to the way operations are carried out by Mossad agents prior to this in other countries, which can be categorised as the work of professional killers. This is because the more shots are fired, the less chance the target has of surviving,” said Bergman, who has reported on investigations into many alleged Mossad killings.
He said Fadi’s whereabouts and his alleged relationship with Hamas was likely monitored by Israel’s intelligence networks located all over the world.
Bergman said the decision to kill anyone would be weighed up by senior officers in Israel to see if it was worth taking the risk and whether it would be beneficial to the country.
He claimed assassinations were carried out by a specialised unit within Mossad called the Caesarea Unit which had operatives in several locations all around the world.
“This unit was founded by an Israeli spy known as Mike Harari in the 1970s and its members are experts in assassinations and sabotage. In fact, in this unit, there are some members who are not Israeli citizens,” he said.
According to Bergman, Israel had, through Mossad, carried out more than 800 secret operations to kill Hamas followers, fighters and leaders in Palestine and other parts of the world.