Hamas Hitmen Used Diplomatic Passports

The members of the hit squad that assassinated a senior Hamas commander in Dubai last month are suspected of entering the United Arab Emirates with forged diplomatic passports, the country’s senior officials revealed Saturday. The 11 assassins reportedly used British, Irish, German, and French documentation to enter the emirate in January, leading the country to call for full-scale investigations in those nations. The police chief said that the assassination of Mahmoud-al-Mabhuh, the founder of Hamas’ armed wing, is “a security issue for European countries.” The Dubai police chief also suggested that one of al-Mabhuh’s closest associates may have leaked information regarding his whereabouts to the assassins, but Hamas said the murdered military leader was careless about security: He booked his ticket to Dubai online and told family members via phone where he planned to stay. Mabhuh's brother said he never told the family where he was traveling.