How Israel’s ‘poisoned toothpaste assassination’ method took decades to expose
Israel-Palestine conflict has been marked by numerous controversial tactics, one of the most notorious being the 'Hannibal Directive,' which allows for the use of excessive force to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers, even if it endangers hostages. Another controversial tactic was the 1978 assassination of Palestinian leader Wadie Haddad by Mossad agents using poisoned toothpaste.
Wadie Haddad, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was implicated in several high-profile attacks, including the 1976 hijacking of Air France Flight 139, known as the Entebbe Hijacking. The plane, diverted from Tel Aviv to Paris, was then taken to Libya and Uganda. Israel’s response, Operation Thunderbolt, was a successful rescue mission led by Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu, who tragically lost his life in the operation.
Mossad’s Mission
In the wake of the Entebbe Hijacking, Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, sought revenge against Haddad, who became a top priority on their Kill List. Rather than opting for a high-profile execution, Mossad chose a discreet method to avoid international scrutiny. They assigned the operation to 'Agent Sadness,' who had access to Haddad's personal spaces.
The Execution
On January 10, 1978, Agent Sadness replaced Haddad’s regular toothpaste with a specially prepared toxic version. The toxin, developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research, was designed to enter Haddad’s bloodstream through his mucous membranes, delivering a gradual and fatal dose.
Haddad’s Illness
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