KUALA LUMPUR: Israel's intelligence agents have struck on Malaysian soil, again, in their worldwide war against Hamas members.
But, they have adapted their tactics to leave no trace of their involvement. They are believed to have recruited local assets to help the Zionist regime hunt down Hamas members in Malaysia.
Recently, in a development that had escaped the media glare, Mossad agents engaged Malaysians to track down and abduct two Palestinian men they believed to be assets of the Hamas al-Qassam Brigade.
In a brazen snatch-and-grab operation in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the team intercepted the two Palestinian high-value targets just after 10pm on Sept 28, when the duo, both computer programming experts, were about to enter their vehicle parked near Jalan Yap Kwan Seng here after having dinner at a nearby mall.
A white vehicle drove up to them. Four men exited, and went for the first Palestinian who was in the driver's seat. They beat him as they dragged him into a waiting vehicle, while telling him that their "boss wanted to have a word with him".
The other Palestinian tried to help his friend but was warned to stay away.
When it dawned on him that this could be the work of Israeli agents, he ran to a nearby hotel to seek help from the security personnel stationed there, as the lead vehicle sped off with his friend inside. A shadow car followed them.
The second Palestinian lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police station about 40 minutes after the abduction.
The abducted Palestinian endured beatings inside the vehicle. His abductors took his handphone and forced him to unlock it. He lied to them that the handphone belonged to his friend.
It is understood that the abductors discarded the handphone as it sped towards Kuala Langat for fear of detection.
Bound and blindfolded, the Palestinian victim was brought to a room in a chalet in a quiet corner of the district, where the abductors — identified as Malaysians — tied him to a chair.
A video call had been set up in front of the victim. On the line were two men, believed to be Israelis, whose opening line to him was: "You know why you are here."
"The operatives who did the snatch-and-grab may have had a miscommunication with their Israeli handlers and several other Malaysians waiting at the chalet because they bungled and let the other Palestinian get away... in fact, he would have been the more prized capture," a source with knowledge of the case said.
They also failed to cover their faces, a fundamental oversight in any covert operation. The plate number on the vehicle used in the operation was also said to be genuine.
At the chalet, another room with a similar set-up meant for the second victim had been prepped.
For the next 24 hours, the victim was interrogated and beaten by the Malaysian operatives when his answers were not to the Israelis' satisfaction.
Meanwhile, one of the Malaysian operatives was in direct communication with another Israeli, carrying out his orders.
"The Israelis wanted to know about his experience in computer application development, Hamas' strength in developing software, members of the Al-Qassam Brigade that he knew and their strengths," he said.
Meanwhile, police were immediately on the case and managed to trace the route of the car, which led them to the chalet.
It is understood that when the police team raided the room, the interrogation was ongoing, and the Israeli men on the other end of the line, who were momentarily confused by the ensuing chaos, could be heard saying: "Hello! Hello!", before the line was terminated.
The last question the Israelis asked the victim, just before police moved in, was who among the Hamas top leadership had met his friend.
"If the Malaysian police had not acted swiftly, the victim would have likely disappeared," the source said.
The traumatised Palestinians have since left Malaysia. The victim sustained injuries to his body, head and legs.
In May last year, Israeli media reported that the Jewish state had declared war on Hamas worldwide. Top Israeli officials had said they would go after all Hamas leaders, wherever they were. They said Israeli forces would target Hamas leaders not only in Gaza, but in Iran, Qatar, Turkiye, and Malaysia, as well.
On April 21, 2018, Fadi Mohamed al-Batsh, 35, a Palestinian professor and member of Hamas, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kuala Lumpur.
His family has accused Mossad of being behind his murder.
The Israeli spy agency has denied involvement despite Hamas having allegedly captured a man, who had confessed to having been assigned the job by Mossad.