A court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced three individuals to death and a fourth to life imprisonment for the murder of Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi. The verdict was announced by the state-run WAM news agency following a trial at Abu Dhabi’s Federal Court of Appeals’ State Security Chamber. According to reports, the suspects—three Uzbek nationals—were arrested in Turkey and extradited to the UAE in connection with the killing, which occurred in November.
Authorities revealed that the defendants had tracked and murdered Kogan, whose body was discovered after he went missing in late November. The evidence presented included detailed confessions from the accused, forensic reports, post-mortem findings, and witness testimonies. "The defendants had tracked and murdered the victim," the WAM report stated. "The evidence included the instruments used in the crime and their explicit admissions of guilt."
Despite the wealth of evidence, no motive has been officially disclosed, according to the authorities. However, the killing took place amid heightened tensions due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has inflamed anti-Israel sentiment across parts of the Muslim world.
Zvi Kogan, 28, was an ultra-Orthodox rabbi affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent branch of Judaism based in Brooklyn, New York. Kogan was described as "an emissary of the Chabad movement, dedicated to supporting Jewish life in the UAE" before getting killed.
While the UAE has not publicly attributed blame beyond the convicted individuals, Israeli officials have pointed fingers at Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others referred to an “axis of evil” being responsible for the killing—a phrase historically associated with Iran and its proxies. However, Iran’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi denied any involvement, stating that Tehran had no role in the crime.
Western intelligence sources, however, believe Iran operates covert intelligence networks in the UAE, monitoring the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the country. They continue with their claims, saying that vast incidents have shown that Iranian intelligence services have used criminal gangs to target dissidents and enemies abroad, as they believe that Iran has been linked to kidnappings and assassinations in the region, raising suspicions about its potential involvement in this case.
Capital punishment is rare in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms home to approximately 9 million people. However, when handed down, executions are typically carried out swiftly after appeals are exhausted. The UAE commonly employs firing squads for executions, though specific details about the method in this case have not been disclosed.
The killing has strained but not severed diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE. Israel maintains its embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai, underscoring the strategic importance of their relationship despite regional conflicts. The UAE, meanwhile, has sought to position itself as a tolerant and cosmopolitan hub, attracting expatriates and global businesses.
Israeli officials expressed outrage over the killing, with some describing it as an “antisemitic act of terror.” In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said, “This heinous crime underscores the dangers faced by Jewish communities worldwide and the need for vigilance against hatred and extremism.”
As the UAE moves forward with the sentencing, questions remain about the broader geopolitical implications of the case and whether it will further strain relations between Israel and its neighbors in the Gulf.