Hamas is outraged that one of its top leaders was assassinated in the heart of the Gulf, with the terror group blaming the Israeli Mossad, warning other leaders of potential assassination attempts, and vowing revenge.

The Israeli government has not commented, as to be expected, but all the signs point to Israeli intelligence as the likely culprit. Agents reportedly drugged the Hamas official in a room before extracting vital security-related information and, finally, concluding the incident with an assassination.

Targeted assassinations by Israel are nothing new. The Mossad is known for using rather complicated methods and very rarely getting caught. (Israel attempted to poison Hamas leader Khalid Meshal in Jordan some years back, but the agents were caught. Israel, in order to secure the release of the agents and avert an international incident, provided Jordan with the antidote to the poison.) One technique used by the Mossad, allegedly, is the use of sophisticated laser technology. Undercover agents on the ground shine a laser pointer at a target. Then, Israeli aircraft fire laser-guided missiles in a precision strike on the target to limit civilian casualties.

In order to gain access to Dubai, the site of the latest assassination, the agents (currently assumed to be Israel, although there is no confirmation) used Irish passports.

After the army, Israelis travel the world, often finding themselves in South America, India, and Japan. Some, though, travel to Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Regardless, I have never heard an Israeli able to pull off a decent Irish accent. And that feat for an Israeli might be more impressive than the laser-guided missile assassinations.