Israeli Intelligence Operations

Documentation of Mossad targeted killings, assassinations, kidnappings, and renditions.

Intelligence Operations / Targeted Killings

Operation Wrath of God (1972-1979)

Response to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed. Mossad conducted a multi-year campaign targeting PLO members across Europe and the Middle East.

Key locations: Rome, Paris, Cyprus, Beirut, Athens, Norway

Lillehammer Affair (1973, Norway): – Mistaken identity killing of Moroccan waiter Ahmed Bouchikhi – Agents arrested, exposing the operation – Major diplomatic incident

Individual Assassinations Attributed to Mossad

Year Target Location Organization/Role
1972 Mahmoud Hamshari Paris, France PLO representative
1973 Basil al-Kubaissi Paris, France PFLP
1978 Wadie Haddad Iraq (poisoned) PFLP operations chief
1979 Ali Hassan Salameh Beirut, Lebanon PLO intelligence chief
1988 Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) Tunis, Tunisia PLO deputy leader
1990 Gerald Bull Brussels, Belgium Canadian weapons designer (Iraq supergun program)
1995 Fathi Shaqaqi Sliema, Malta Islamic Jihad leader
2008 Imad Mughniyeh Damascus, Syria Hezbollah military commander
2010 Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh Dubai, UAE Hamas commander
2010 Masoud Alimohammadi Tehran, Iran Nuclear scientist
2010 Majid Shahriari Tehran, Iran Nuclear scientist
2011 Darioush Rezaeinejad Tehran, Iran Nuclear scientist
2012 Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan Tehran, Iran Nuclear scientist
2020 Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Tehran, Iran Head of nuclear program

Failed Assassination of Khaled Mashal (1997) – Amman, Jordan

Kidnappings and Renditions

Eichmann Capture (1960) – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mordechai Vanunu Kidnapping (1986) – Rome, Italy

Background: – Vanunu was an Israeli nuclear technician who worked at the Dimona nuclear facility – Became disillusioned and left Israel in 1985 – Provided photographs and information about Israel's secret nuclear weapons program to the British Sunday Times

The kidnapping: – While in London awaiting publication, Vanunu was targeted by Mossad – Lured to Rome by “Cindy,” a female Mossad agent (honey trap operation) – Agent's real name: Cheryl Bentov – Drugged and kidnapped in Rome on September 30, 1986 – Smuggled to Israel by boat

Trial and imprisonment: – Tried in secret for treason and espionage – Sentenced to 18 years in prison – Spent 11+ years in solitary confinement – Released in 2004

Ongoing restrictions (as of 2024): – Prohibited from leaving Israel – Cannot speak to foreign journalists without permission – Cannot approach foreign embassies – Restrictions renewed repeatedly – Has been re-arrested multiple times for violating restrictions – Effectively still not free decades after release

Significance: – Confirmed Israel's nuclear weapons program (estimated 80-400 warheads) – Demonstrated willingness to kidnap from allied nations – Italy never consented to the operation – International campaigns for his release continue

Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid (1989) – Lebanon

Mustafa Dirani (1994) – Lebanon

Ben Zygier / “Prisoner X” (2010) – Israel

Background: – Ben Zygier was an Australian-Israeli citizen – Recruited by Mossad – Worked as an intelligence agent using his Australian passport

Secret imprisonment: – Arrested by Israel in 2010 – Held in Ayalon Prison's “Wing 15” – a secret isolation unit – His existence was completely hidden from the world – Even prison guards didn't know his identity – Kept under the name “Prisoner X”

Death: – Found dead in his cell on December 15, 2010 – Officially ruled suicide by hanging – Cell was supposedly “suicide-proof” – Circumstances remain disputed

Discovery and scandal: – Israeli media initially barred from reporting by military censor – Story broke in 2013 when Australian ABC's Foreign Correspondent program investigated – Caused major scandal in Australia and Israel – Israeli government initially denied, then confirmed

Suspected reasons for imprisonment: – Allegedly compromised Mossad operations – May have been planning to reveal information to Australian authorities – Possibly connected to Dubai assassination or other operations – Full details remain classified

Australian response: – Government admitted it knew of his detention – Criticized for not providing adequate consular assistance – Called for investigation – Raised questions about Australian citizens recruited by foreign intelligence

Other “Prisoner X” cases: – Reports suggest there have been other secret prisoners in Wing 15 – At least two other cases alleged – Details remain classified under Israeli military censorship

Dirar Abu Sisi Kidnapping (2011) – Ukraine

Background: – Palestinian engineer and Hamas member – Director of the Gaza power plant – Living in Ukraine with family, seeking Ukrainian citizenship

The kidnapping: – Abducted from a train in Ukraine on February 19, 2011 – Was traveling from Kharkiv to Kyiv – Disappeared without trace – Family reported him missing

Revelation: – Three weeks later, Israel announced he was in Israeli custody – Israel claimed he was a “senior Hamas military figure” – Allegedly involved in rocket development

Legal issues: – Ukraine denied involvement or knowledge – No extradition request was made – Violated Ukrainian sovereignty – Human rights organizations protested

Detention: – Held without charge initially – Later charged with Hamas membership and weapons development – Sentenced to 21 years in Israeli prison – Family, including Ukrainian wife and children, separated from him

Other Alleged Kidnappings

Ismail al-Ashqar (1991) – Lebanon

Hassan Diab Case (Alleged involvement)

Pattern of Operations

Methods used: – Honey trap operations (Vanunu) – Train/transit abductions (Abu Sisi) – Military commando raids (Obeid, Dirani) – Exploitation of dual citizenship (Zygier)

Legal implications: – Violations of sovereignty of multiple nations (Italy, Ukraine, Lebanon, Argentina) – Secret detentions without due process – Military censorship prevents scrutiny – Bargaining chip detentions (holding individuals for prisoner exchanges)