Tunis – A Tunisian court specializing in terrorism cases has sentenced 11 individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the assassination of engineer Mohamed Al-Zouari. The verdict was delivered Tuesday by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Tunis.
Al-Zouari, a member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, was killed in 2016. According to defense attorney Mokhtar Jamaï, all those convicted are fugitives and were not present during the sentencing.
Al-Zouari, 49 at the time of his death, was shot in front of his home in Sfax on December 15, 2016, as he was about to enter his car. Assailants fired approximately 20 bullets. He had been working on a doctoral project involving the creation of a remotely controlled submarine and oversaw the development of the “Ababil 1” drone project for the Al-Qassam Brigades.
According to Tunisian authorities, the case file includes Eric Sarac and Alan Kamzic, both Bosnian nationals, identified as the primary perpetrators. Six other foreign nationals and three Tunisians are also implicated and charged with premeditated murder.
Following Al-Zouari’s assassination, Hamas confirmed his membership in its military wing and characterized his killing as part of a broader targeting of its scientists and engineers. The organization accused the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, of carrying out the operation. Tel Aviv typically maintains silence regarding such allegations. The assassination continues to raise questions about international involvement and the security of individuals linked to armed groups.
