# Hamas leader electrocuted by Israel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882 "2010-02-06T02:43:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/1 "2010-02-06T02:43:19Z")
If its true, how did they do it? Has any information been released on exactly what happened? How could they have done it? Sounds very James Bond. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/2 "2010-02-06T03:53:07Z")
[The OP is referring to this story](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7007864.ece). Very few details have been released, at least in the English language media. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/3 "2010-02-06T03:57:33Z")
It’s not completely clear that Israel did it. From [Ha’aretz](http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1146944.html): > [@](#): > > But details of a Hamas inquiry passed to Haaretz reveal that Arab states, not Israel, now top the suspect list. Both Hamas and Dubai police say that Mabhouh had enemies across the Middle East, any of whom may have had a motive for his murder. Of course, just because Israel isn’t #1 on the list doesn’t mean they didn’t do it. But it’s far from a slam dunk. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/4 "2010-02-06T05:14:16Z")
I am shocked anybody would even consider such a thing, much less potentially do it. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/5 "2010-02-06T05:44:59Z")
So perhaps is not real? ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/6 "2010-02-06T06:21:42Z")
Ohm my god! Watt were they thinking! ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/7 "2010-02-06T06:51:43Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > If its true, how did they do it? Has any information been released on exactly what happened? How could they have done it? > > Sounds very James Bond. Seems like a very ineffective way of killing someone. A healthy adult will likely survive electrocution even at 220v (which is what they use in the UAE). Additionally the article linked below says: > [@](#): > > Security sources quoted in Gulf media said that as well as electrical burns, al-Mabhouh’s body bore traces of strangulation. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/8 "2010-02-06T07:52:39Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#): > > Ohm my god! Watt were they thinking! Oh! I only just got that. A belated “haha” from me. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/9 "2010-02-06T11:50:09Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Seems like a very ineffective way of killing someone. A healthy adult will likely survive electrocution even at 220v (which is what they use in the UAE). Additionally the article linked below says: > **[Running Scared (1986) - Quotes - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091875/quotes/)** > > Running Scared: Two street-wise Chicago cops have to shake off some rust after returning from a Key West vacation to pursue a drug dealer who nearly killed them in the past. Danny Costanzo: Try not to scrape the third rail, OK? There’s about 600 volts in there. Ray Hughes: It’s not the voltage that gets you. It’s the amps. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/10 "2010-02-06T12:02:45Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Oh! I only just got that. A belated “haha” from me. :smack: It pays to keep up with current events. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/11 "2010-02-06T12:42:04Z")
Strictly speaking, it isn’t the amps that kills you either. The thing that kills you is the amount of energy delivered within a period of time, so now you are into differential territory. You could survive a flow rate of a million amps, as long as the time were short enough, yet a continuous rate of current flow of 40 milliamps might be enough to do you in. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/12 "2010-02-06T12:59:03Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I am shocked anybody would even consider such a thing, much less potentially do it. Who would they charge with the crime anyway? There will be a lot of resistance one way or another, so they had better conduct a battery of tests. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/13 "2010-02-06T13:00:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Security sources quoted in Gulf media said that as well as electrical burns, al-Mabhouh’s body bore traces of strangulation. It sounds as if we can rule out suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/14 "2010-02-06T14:10:07Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Who would they charge with the crime anyway? There will be a lot of resistance one way or another, so they had better conduct a battery of tests. These puns are revolting. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/15 "2010-02-06T14:27:10Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Security sources quoted in Gulf media said that as well as electrical burns, al-Mabhouh’s body bore traces of strangulation. > > It sounds as if we can rule out suicide. Probably an accident. Autoerotic asphyxiation in the tub, combined with a precariously perched electrical device. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/16 "2010-02-06T14:33:55Z")
And since the U.S. is a supporter of Israel, We’re all guilty by extension. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/17 "2010-02-06T14:36:06Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > We’re all guilty by extension. I’m sure they’ll find a lead. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/18 "2010-02-06T14:44:33Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’m sure they’ll find a lead. Can’t they terminate the case by induction? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/19 "2010-02-06T14:49:02Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > Can’t they terminate the case by induction? I think they need to find a direct connection. Was it the Israelis, or Arabs? There are grounds for both alternating current theories. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882/20 "2010-02-06T14:52:37Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Who would they charge with the crime anyway? There will be a lot of resistance one way or another, so they had better conduct a battery of tests. Please. You need to be more grounded- just focus on the main idea! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamas-leader-electrocuted-by-israel/527882.md?page=2)