On Tuesday, Israel struck Hamas’s political leadership headquarters in Qatar as the group’s top leaders met to discuss a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the conflict and freeing hostages.
The attack angered Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops that has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the 23-month-old conflict and even before. It condemned what it referred to as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms” as smoke rose over its capital, Doha.
The United States said Israel alerted it before the strike. But American officials sought to distance the U.S. from the attack. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff passed along a warning to the Qataris.She said President Donald Trump believes the Israeli strike was an “unfortunate incident” that didn’t advance peace in the region. She said Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “made his thoughts and concerns very clear.”
Hamas said in a statement its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya — Hamas’ leader for Gaza and its top negotiator — and the head of al-Hayya’s office. Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived.A member of Qatar’s Internal Security Force was also killed and others were wounded, Qatar’s Interior Ministry said.
Hamas has survived numerous assassinations of top leaders and still shows cohesion in Gaza, despite having suffered major blows in Israel’s campaign, triggered by the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
As Israel prepares for a major offensive to seize Gaza City, the strike raises the possibility that the long-stalled ceasefire talks will be derailed. That escalation has been met with heavy international condemnation and opposition within Israel from those who fear it will doom the remaining hostages.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying “all parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.” Surveillance footage aired by Al Jazeera showed the strike happened in Doha’s Diplomatic Quarter at a series of buildings that housed Hamas’ political wing. An Egyptian official said the strike came when a meeting by Hamas officials over the talks had been scheduled for the site. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to talk to reporters.Israel has long threatened to strike Hamas leaders wherever they are. Along with Egypt, it has criticized Qatar for not exerting sufficient pressure on the group, even though it has frequently praised the country’s role as a mediator. Netanyahu was quick to publicly claim the strike, saying, “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” in contrast to previous Israeli operations against senior militants abroad. He said the decision was taken Monday after a shooting attack in Jerusalem that killed six people and an attack on Israeli forces in Gaza that killed four soldiers.
Israel says it targeted Hamas leadership in Qatar, explosions heard in Doha
