The assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai has entered a new, dramatic chapter. After the Dubai Police Chief accused Israel’s Mossad of being responsible for the elimination of al Mabhouh, and following the disclosure of important details taken from images and passports used in the assassination, the story has taken on international dimensions involving Britain, France and Germany.

What’s new today is that Dubai Police Chief Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan revealed that an agent within Hamas with information on al Mabhouh’s movements in Dubai leaked information to the Mossad. Khalfan described this agent as the “real killer.” To some extent, the comments made by the Dubai Police Chief gave the story of al Mabhouh’s murder another dramatic dimension as it represents a real “dilemma.”

Since the assassination took place in Dubai a great deal of praise has been given to the security role played by Dubai's security authorities in revealing important and decisive details within a short period of time and without doubt this [praise] is well deserved. Even senior Hamas member Musa Abu Marzouk, the Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, commended the efforts exerted by Dubai security [authorities] and described its work as “exceptional and distinct,” and able to confuse the Zionist plot. In his capacity as Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri said that the movement has deep appreciation for the role Dubai is playing in the investigations and it calls on Dubai to continue in this regard until the perpetrator has been arrested.

Of course, Hamas did not spare its opponents in Fatah as it accused the [Palestinian] Authority and Mohammed Dahlan of involvement in al Mabhouh’s assassination. Moreover, we noticed the obvious confusion when a Hamas leading figure stated that al Mabhouh contacted his brother before traveling to Dubai and told him about the trip and where he would be staying whilst the family, however, rushed to categorically deny this. As for Hamas, it is rejecting what Khalfan said about an internal agent within Hamas being involved in al Mabhouh’s assassination and it also rejects Khalfan’s calls on Hamas to conduct an internal investigation quickly, despite that a few days ago Khaled Mishal said that the movement was carrying out “internal investigations, within our own procedures”!

Therefore, the real “dilemma” today is the way Hamas is dealing with the information presented by the Dubai Police Chief on a Hamas agent leaking information to Mossad, especially after Hamas praised the Dubai police force and after the assassination case took on an international dimension, making it one of today’s most important stories.

If it is actually proven that there is a Mossad spy within Hamas, the other matter about the assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh is what about the sensitive assassinations carried out against figures pursued by Israel, such as the murder of Imad Mughniyeh? Did they take place because internal disputes, for example, led to information being leaked to Mossad in order to eliminate such figures or was it just an infiltration operation carried out by Mossad?

There is a saying that there is always someone else behind a loud voice. Therefore let us wait and see as it is clear that the case of al Mabhouh’s assassination is far from over and more excitement and surprises are yet to come.

Tariq Alhomayed is the Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat.