DUBAI, Nov 24: Zvi Kogan, an Israeli rabbi who had been residing in Dubai, was found dead after being reported missing earlier this week. Kogan, who had made significant contributions to the Jewish community in the UAE, was last seen on November 21. Authorities discovered his body after what Israeli officials have described as an "antisemitic terrorist act."

Kogan, who held Moldovan citizenship, was involved in establishing Jewish institutions in Dubai, including a kosher store and the UAE’s first Jewish education center. His death is believed to be linked to increasing tensions in the region amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has condemned the act and pledged to bring those responsible to justice.

The circumstances surrounding Kogan's murder remain under investigation, with Israeli officials expressing shock at the targeted nature of the crime. The murder has sent ripples through the expat community in the UAE, with calls for heightened security measures to protect foreign nationals in the region.