Bardawil also said the Palestinian Authority was linked to the
assassination of Al Mabhouh. He said two officers of the PA Preventive
Security Apparatus participated in the killing, which was attributed to
Israel.
In a briefing on Feb. 20, Bardawil's statements marked the first
criticism by Hamas of Al Mabhouh, assassinated in his hotel room in the
United Arab Emirates on Jan. 19. Interpol has launched a search for 11
suspects, said to have acquired the identities of Irish and British
emigrants in Israel to enter the port city of Dubai.
"This undoubtedly created a security breach in the movements of Al
Mabhouh," Bardawil said.
Several Hamas operatives were also said to have been investigated in
connection with the killing of Al Mabhouh. This included Nahru Massoud,
identified as a senior member of Hamas's military wing who had been in the
UAE during the assassination. Massoud has since returned to Syria.
Officials said Al Mabhouh worked with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps to send weapons to the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip. They added that
over the years Al Mabhouh began to operate outside Hamas and concluded
independent arms deals.
The UAE has confirmed Hamas findings of the lack of security that
surrounded Al Mabhouh. Dubai police chief Lt. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said
Al Mabhouh was betrayed by an unidentified associate who leaked details of
the visit by the Hamas procurement chief to the UAE.
Hamas said Israel was trying to assassinate military leaders in the Gaza
Strip as well. On Feb. 20, a senior officer in Hamas's military escaped a
bomb attack in the southern city of Rafah.
The operative, identified as Attiyah Abu Nujeira, was driving his sports
utility vehicle when a bomb was detonated. Officials said Abu Nujeira
escaped serious injury.
