Mossad's Hamas 'Assassination' Plot: A Shadowy Past Dictating Present Strategy

World and Wars

The killing of senior Hamas leader Saleh Al Arouri has put Israel's secret assassination strategy back in the spotlight. While the Israel government has not confirmed its role in Arouri's killing, many are taking it for granted, given declarations by top leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel would kill Hamas leaders wherever they are. However, the Arouri operation has also renewed the debate about the efficacy of assassinations by Israel's spy agency Mossad. Its past targets have included the founders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, these groups didn't just survive the assassinations, but managed to grow stronger and then carry out the October 7 attack. Mossad also has had a string of embarrassing failures, including being forced to save top Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal whom they had poisoned, and also killing an innocent civilian after mistaking him for a Palestinian leader.