Wadie Haddad began suffering from severe abdominal spasms after a regular meal in mid-January 1978. His health rapidly declined, leading to significant weight loss and hospitalisation in Baghdad. Despite receiving treatment from the best doctors, his condition did not improve. Doctors initially diagnosed him with hepatitis and later suggested a severe cold. His symptoms included persistent fever, hair loss, and widespread hemorrhaging, which puzzled the medical professionals treating him.
Unable to determine the cause of Haddad’s mysterious illness, Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), sought help from East Germany’s Secret Service, the Stasi. Haddad was moved from Baghdad to East Berlin and admitted to a specialized hospital under the alias Ahmed Doukli. By the time he reached East Berlin, he was critically ill, suffering from severe internal bleeding and a dangerously low platelet count. The transfer aimed to seek advanced medical care and diagnostic capabilities that might reveal the cause of his deteriorating condition.
Final Days and Autopsy
Despite advanced medical care in East Berlin, Haddad’s condition worsened. After ten days of excruciating pain, during which his screams echoed through the hospital, he died on March 29, 1978. A full autopsy by forensic expert Professor Otto Prokop concluded that Haddad died from brain bleeding and pneumonia caused by panmyelopathy, with suspicions of assassination. However, the exact cause remained elusive, adding to the mystery surrounding his death. The autopsy findings pointed to possible poisoning, but the exact toxin used was not identified at the time.
The Entebbe Hijacking Connection
Haddad was a key figure behind the Entebbe Hijacking of Air France Flight 139 on June 27, 1976. This event led to the Israeli raid, Operation Thunderbolt, where Israeli forces rescued hostages but lost Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu. Haddad’s involvement in the hijacking, which included coordinating with German Revolutionary Cells, made him a prime target for Mossad. The hijacking, which ended in a dramatic rescue at Entebbe airport in Uganda, resulted in significant casualties and heightened Israel’s resolve to eliminate Haddad.
Mossad’s Ingenious Plan
To avoid a loud, messy execution in an Arab capital, Mossad devised a subtle method. “Agent Sadness,” who had significant access to Haddad, swapped his regular toothpaste with a tube containing a toxin. This toxin, developed at the Israel Institute for Biological Research, gradually entered Haddad’s bloodstream through the mucous membranes in his mouth, eventually proving fatal. The toxin was designed to be undetectable and to act slowly, mimicking the symptoms of a severe illness and ensuring that the assassination remained covert.
For nearly three decades, the details of Haddad’s assassination remained hidden. Two different versions of the story emerged in books by Aaron J Klein and Ronan Bergman. Klein’s 2006 book “Striking Back” suggested poison-laced chocolates, while Bergman’s 2018 book “Rise and Kill First” provided a detailed account of the poisoned toothpaste. In a 2018 interview, Bergman mentioned that the Stasi suspected the toothpaste and warned Iraqi intelligence, leading to heightened security measures for Iraqi scientists. These revelations highlighted the sophistication and precision of Mossad’s operations, as well as the lengths to which they would go to eliminate perceived threats.
Historical Context and Further Implications
Haddad’s assassination occurred during a period of heightened conflict and tension in West Asia . The late 1970s were marked by numerous acts of violence and counter-violence between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups. Haddad’s death was part of a broader strategy by Israel to target leaders of Palestinian organizations involved in acts of terrorism against Israeli citizens. This strategy included various high-profile assassinations and covert operations aimed at dismantling the leadership and operational capabilities of these groups.
Mossad’s Evolving Tactics
The assassination of Haddad with poisoned toothpaste represented a significant evolution in Mossad’s tactics. Traditionally known for high-profile, often violent operations, Mossad began to adopt more subtle, less detectable methods of eliminating targets. This approach, known as “low-signature assassination,” minimized the risk of international backlash and political fallout. It also allowed Mossad to operate more freely in hostile environments, carrying out operations with a high degree of deniability.
The use of poisoned toothpaste in the assassination of Haddad demonstrated the lengths to which intelligence agencies are willing to go to achieve their objectives. It also underscored the ongoing development and deployment of chemical and biological agents in espionage activities. The incident served as a stark reminder of the ever-present dangers faced by individuals involved in international conflicts and highlighted the complex ethical considerations surrounding the use of such methods.
Haddad’s assassination introduced the term “low-signature assassination” to Mossad’s operations. Israel’s approach to targeted killings, guided by the Talmudic phrase “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill them first,” continues to shape its security strategy. The recent assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh underscores the ongoing relevance of this tactic in Israel’s defense policy. Mossad’s ability to adapt and innovate in its methods ensures that it remains one of the most formidable intelligence agencies in the world, capable of executing precise and covert operations to protect national security interests.
