China’s Ambassador to Israel Found Dead in Tel Aviv Home, Heart Failure Suspected

China’s Ambassador to Israel Found Dead in Tel Aviv Home, Heart Failure Suspected
China's ambassador to Israel Du Wei speaks during a news briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, on Aug. 30, 2019. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)
Melanie Sun
5/17/2020
Updated:
5/17/2020

JERUSALEM—An Israeli police spokesman has said that China’s ambassador to Israel was found dead in his Tel Aviv home on Sunday.

Police have launched an investigation into his death, the spokesman said.

Magen David Adom paramedics told Israeli media that 57-year-old Du Wei was found dead lying in his bed. He appeared to have died in his sleep of natural causes.

People and Israeli police are seen at the door of China's ambassador to Israel, Du Wei's home in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, Israel May 17, 2020. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
People and Israeli police are seen at the door of China's ambassador to Israel, Du Wei's home in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, Israel May 17, 2020. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
The suspected cause of death is heart failure, Times of Israel reported.
Police did not immediately comment on the cause of death of Du, who became ambassador to Israel in February, according to the embassy’s website.
Before that, Du served as China’s ambassador to Ukraine.

He leaves behind a wife and son.

Reuters contributed to this report.