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Reuters

A Palestinian man linked to Islamic group Hamas was shot dead in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday by two suspects believed to be connected to foreign intelligence services, authorities said.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said two men on a motorcycle fired 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim, killing him on the spot.
“Preliminary investigations found four gunshot wounds on the victim’s body. Two bullet slugs were found at the scene of the incident,” Mazlan said in a statement.
When contacted later by Reuters, Mazlan declined to comment on reports that the victim was a member of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or had been targeted by hitmen.
“It’s too early to say, we are still investigating all aspects.”

Palestinians demand UN investigation into Gaza clashes as Israeli forces face ‘massacre’ allegations
Palestine’s ambassador to Malaysia Anwar al-Agha later identified the victim as Palestinian Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer. Witnesses at the scene had told him that the two suspects had “European features”, the ambassador told Reuters.
Hamas, which exercises de facto control over Gaza, said a “loyal” member was “assassinated” in Malaysia but stopped short of accusing Israel’s secret service of carrying out the killing. It described al-Batsh as a “scientist of Palestine’s youth scholars” who made “important contributions” to the organisation.
A Hamas statement said Batsh was “assassinated at treacherous hands on Saturday … as he walked for the dawn prayers”.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the victim had links with foreign intelligence and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organisations, describing him as an expert in electrical engineering and “rocket-building”. He said the suspects were believed to be Europeans with links to a foreign intelligence agency, state news agency Bernama reported.
The victim could have been seen as “a liability for a country that is an enemy of Palestine”, Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Four Palestinians shot to death by Israeli troops during fresh Gaza border protests
Batsh’s uncle Jamal al-Batsh, speaking to Reuters in the Jabalya town in northern Gaza Strip, said he believed the killing was the work of Israel’s Mossad espionage service. Officials in Israel declined to comment.
When asked who he blamed, he replied: “The Israeli Mossad. The Israeli Mossad stood behind the assassination of educated people and intellectuals because Israel knows Palestine will be liberated by scientists.”
“Therefore, they tracked this young educated man.”
Batsh was a lecturer at Universiti Kuala Lumpur, specialising in power engineering, according to the university.

A Palestinian in Malaysia who knew Batsh told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the victim was also an imam at a mosque close to his residence.
In recent weeks, tensions have been running high at the Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians have ramped up protests demanding the right to return to their former homeland.
Israel’s use of live fire has drawn international criticism but the Israeli government says it is protecting its borders and takes such action when protesters come too close to the border fence.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Israel

‘Assassinated by the hand of treachery’: Palestinian ‘rocket building’ expert linked to Hamas gunned down in Malaysia

Malaysian Police collect evidence at the crime scene where a Palestinian scientist Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh was reportedly assassinated in a drive-by motorcycle shooting in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: EPA

epa06683174 Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) forensic officers collect evidence at the crime scene where a Palestinian scientist, Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, 35, was reportedly assassinated in a drive-by motorcycle shooting, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 21 April 2018. One of two suspects on a high-powered motorcycle fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer in the head and body. He died on the spot,' Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Mazlan Lazim said on 21 April. Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, a Palestinian engineer from the Gaza Strip, believed to be affiliated with Hamas, was killed on 21 April, when leaving a mosque after morning prayers in Kuala Lumpur, media reported. EPA-EFE/STRINGER MALAYSIA OUT

Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, center, chant slogans as he surrounded by protesters during his visit to the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, April 20, 2018. Thousands of Palestinians joined the fourth weekly protest on Gaza's border with Israel on Friday, some burning tires or flying kites with flaming rags dangling from their tails. Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops firing from across the border fence, health officials said. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)

epa06683175 Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) forensic officers collect evidence at the crime scene where a Palestinian scientist, Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, 35, was reportedly assassinated in a drive-by motorcycle shooting, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 21 April 2018. One of two suspects on a high-powered motorcycle fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer in the head and body. He died on the spot,' Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Mazlan Lazim said on 21 April. Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, a Palestinian engineer from the Gaza Strip, believed to be affiliated with Hamas, was killed on 21 April, when leaving a mosque after morning prayers in Kuala Lumpur, media reported. EPA-EFE/STRINGER MALAYSIA OUT

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Kuala Lumpur police said two men on a motorcycle fired 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim, killing him on the spot


Malaysia

‘Assassinated by the hand of treachery’: Palestinian ‘rocket building’ expert linked to Hamas gunned down in Malaysia

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kuala Lumpur police said two men on a motorcycle fired 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim, killing him on the spot

Kuala Lumpur police said two men on a motorcycle fired 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim, killing him on the spot