An Israeli supermarket chain is using a spoof of surveillance footage showing the alleged assassins of Hamas commander Mahmoud a-Mabhouh in a television commercial. The commercial, which will be aired just before the Passover holiday, imitates the grainy surveillance footage that was disseminated by Dubai police after the assassination in its reconstruction of the assassination team's moves.
The actors in the commercial for Mahsanei Kimat Hinam shops wear disguises, including a tennis outfit, much like the alleged assassins. The customers move through the supermarket's aisles in groups and an actress wearing a wide-brimmed hat says: "I cannot admit anything". The final line is: "We offer killer prices.”
In the absence of any official Israeli admission of complicity in the Dubai hit, it seems that some news outlets are making do with the commercial as the next best thing.
Advertising executive Sefi Shaked told the BBC that the campaign was inspired by the original footage from Dubai.
"We were fascinated by the technique of using surveillance cameras instead of high-production cameras, and the latest events in Dubai have given us a great opportunity," he said. "It's a parody, a take-off of what happened in Dubai. All the Israeli television comedy shows have done it, so why shouldn't we?" he added.