GCC & Iran: Hamas man assassination is act of terror

Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council joined yesterday the chorus denouncing the murder of a Hamas leader in Dubai, both calling it an act of terror and Tehran squarely laying the blame on Israel.

“The Dubai assassination is an act of state terrorism on the part of Israel,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a report.

“Israel’s existence is itself based on terrorist activities,” Mehmanparast said.

The Iranian spokesman also described the assassination of the Palestinian militant as an “embarrassment for Europe.”

Meanwhile, GCC Secretary General Abdel Rahim Al Attiya called for EU countries to cooperate with the United Arab Emirates’ investigation into the killing, “to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice and prevent the repeat of such a terrorist act.”

Dubai has accused Israel of sending agents of from Mossad secret service to carry out the murder of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, who was found dead in a hotel room in the emirate on January 20. Dubai police chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan said last week that he was 99% if not 100% sure the Israeli intelligence service was behind the killing.