Three Uzbek nationals have been taken into custody by UAE authorities in relation to the death of an Israeli Moldovan rabbi who was discovered dead in the Gulf state.
Israeli officials expressed indignation over the murder, which also brought attention to the small but expanding Jewish community in the Emirate, which established diplomatic relations with the Jewish state in the 2020 Abraham Accords. Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip and the subsequent Arab outcry have put pressure on that opening.
On Monday, the Ministry of Interior in the United Arab Emirates revealed the identity of “the three perpetrators arrested for committing the murder of the Moldovan resident, Zvi Kogan.”
It stated that it was “conducting initial investigations” with Azizi Kamilovich, 33, Makhmudjon Abdurrahim, 28, and Olimpi Tohirovich, 28 of Uzbekistan.
On Sunday, the arrests were made.
Following the filing of a missing person report last week, a specialist team promptly located Kogan’s body, the ministry announced on Sunday. According to the report, they subsequently located and detained the individuals and started the legal process.
The killing of Kogan, who had been absent in the Gulf state since Thursday, was deemed a criminal antisemitic terrorist incident by the Israeli government.
In a statement released early on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his nation would pursue the utmost legal remedies against the criminals who killed him.
Suspicions that Kogan had been abducted were immediately raised by his disappearance. He represented Chabad Lubavitch, a prominent New York-based Orthodox Jewish Hasidic organization, in Abu Dhabi.
We regret to inform you that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the Chabad-Lubavitch envoy to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was killed by terrorists following his kidnapping on Thursday, Chabad wrote on X.
Israel’s National Security Bureau stated on Sunday that Israeli nationals should refrain from unnecessary travel to the United Arab Emirates and urged those who are already there to refrain from wearing Israeli flags and from going to places associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities.
According to the alert, there are worries that there is still a threat to Jews and Israelis in the region.
According to Israeli President Isaac Herzogs, the hateful antisemitic attack won’t stop Israelis from building thriving communities in the United Arab Emirates or anyplace else.
Without specifically mentioning Kogan’s passing, Anwar Gargash, the president of the United Arab Emirates’ foreign adviser, stated on X on Sunday that the nation would continue to be a safe haven, a stable haven, and a community of people who live together and are forgiving.
Netanyahu’s administration announced on Saturday that Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, was looking into the disappearance after learning of a terrorist incident.
The family of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan national, reported to the Emirati Interior Ministry on Saturday that he had gone missing and had not been in contact since last Thursday.
According to the ministry, specialized authorities launched search and investigative efforts as soon as they received the notification.
Later on Sunday, Netanyahu commended the UAE’s support in the murder investigation during a government meeting.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted by NBC News for a statement.
Following an October firefight between Iran and Israel and Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, Kogan’s abduction occurs during a tumultuous period for the area.
While the agreement has lasted through the Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon, the UAE’s formal recognition of Israel in 2020 has fueled resentment among certain Emiratis, Arab nationalities, and other UAE residents.
Although Iran’s involvement is not confirmed at this time, Iranian intelligence services have been charged with carrying out kidnappings in the United Arab Emirates in the past.
During a 2020 stopover in the United Arab Emirates, Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian German software developer residing in California, was abducted and sent to Iran. According to Iran’s judiciary, he was put to death in October.
According to Netanyahu’s administration, Kogan’s family was in communication with the Israeli mission in Abu Dhabi.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!