Various countries have sent secret messages to Israel informing Jerusalem that they are aware that Mossad agents are using their passports in overseas operations, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.

The countries, all friends of Israel, demanded to halt all use of such passports in messages to Israeli embassies and as part of the consular discourse.

The protest had caused considerable embarrassment to Israel in several cases. In other cases, Israel could not respond to the claims as they did not include names and details of the alleged Mossad agents.

The protest grew following the assassination of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in February 2010. Dubai's police distributed photos and names of 33 individuals suspected of entering the country using European passports.

A diplomatic crisis between Israel and the UK ensued and culminated with the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat from London. Australia and Ireland followed suit, while France and Germany demanded clarifications from Jerusalem.

However, recent demands regarding the use of foreign passports came from countries which were not involved in the Mabhouh affair, including Asian, African and East European nations. It is unclear whether the messages are based on solid information or suspicions alone.

One of the foreign diplomats who conveyed one such message said: "You have a bad reputation when it comes to other countries' passports."

On Wednesday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key denied reports suggesting that three Israelis killed in the Christchurch earthquake were Mossad agents.

"There was no link between those individuals and the Israeli intelligence agencies," he said.

He stressed that none of the passports found in the name of Ofer Mizrahi, the Israeli who was killed during the devastating quake, were New Zealand passports.