Israel launched an attack on Tuesday targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. The strikes, which occurred within minutes of each other, were reported across multiple locations. The focus of the assault was the Hamas political team, engaged in discussions related to a ceasefire in Gaza. The residential buildings of Hamas leaders in Qatar were the specific targets. An Israeli official confirmed to CNN that Khalil al-Hayya, a primary negotiator for Hamas, was among those targeted. Al Jazeera reported that the Hamas leadership survived the attacks in Doha. A Hamas official, al-Hindi, stated that an attempt to assassinate Khalil al-Hayya and other Hamas leaders, who were in a meeting to consider Trump’s ceasefire proposal, had been thwarted. However, the attack resulted in the death of five lower-level individuals, including Humam, al-Hayya’s son, and a key associate, as indicated by the Hamas official. The Qatari Interior Ministry confirmed one death among its security personnel and several injuries. The incident raises concerns about the potential failure of the peace efforts, as both Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled al-Mashal were integral to the peace talks. The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majid al-Ansari, criticized the targeting of residences of members of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha. The attack has resulted in widespread condemnation across the Arab world. Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations have condemned the actions, also conveying their solidarity with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has cautioned Israel about the repercussions of violating international law and norms. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack. Guterres called on all parties to work toward a permanent ceasefire rather than undermining it.
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