Hamas mourns Tunisian drone engineer murdered 'by Israeli Mossad'

The murder of the prominent Tunisian activist and engineer outside his home on Thursday was tought to be an assassination by Israel's spy service due to his role in making drones for Hamas.

Zoari, an aviation scientist described by media as an Islamist-leaning civil activist, was shot dead at point-blank range on Thursday in the south Tunisian city of Sfax.

He was reportedly shot multiple times while he sat in his car outside his home. Eight bullets were found in his body, and up to twenty shell casings were located in the crime scene, according to Tunisian security authorities.

Some Arab media have blamed Israel's Mossad agency due to the victim's ties to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement. Tunisian informed sources contacted by The New Arab gave some credence to the allegations, based on Zoari's background.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation.

According to Arab press reports, Israel's Mossad agency is behind the assassination, linked to the victim's ties to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement

Zoari, also a former pilot, has been helping Hamas make drones for use in its resistance operations in the Palestinian territories, the reports alleged.

While Tunisian authorities downplayed the reports, several of the suspects arrested appear to be foreigners, according to security sources that spoke to The New Arab.

According to Israel's Channel 2, Zoari was known for his ties with Hamas and was credited with helping the group develop unmanned aerial vehicles. Channel 2 showed what appears to be footage of him working on small drones.