Rabat — The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced Tuesday that they conducted an airstrike targeting Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, though they did not reveal the location of the attack.
The military announcement came as residents in Doha, Qatar’s capital city, heard a loud explosion. Al Jazeera, the broadcaster funded by Qatar, quoted Hamas sources as confirming that the attacks targeted its negotiating team.
The source indicated that Hamas leaders were in Doha to discuss US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in genocide-torn Gaza.
Hamas confirmed that all members of its delegation, led by Khalil Al Hayya, survived the assassination attack.
The Qatari government has strongly condemned the “cowardly” attack, saying it is a blatant violation of international law and interference in the sovereignty of states.
The IOF said that the operation took place in joint cooperation with Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet. It confirmed that its air force carried out an assassination attempt on top Hamas leaders in Doha.
Israel has invoked pretexts that the unnamed Hamas members had led the organisation’s activities for years, vowing that it will continue its strikes to “defeat the Hamas terrorist organisation.”
These latest attacks follow Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir threatening to target Hamas leaders living abroad. They also took place hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had accepted a Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by the US.
The attacks are a flagrant violation of both the spirit of past ceasefire deals and the ongoing ceasefire talks, making it difficult for the parties to commit to a genuine agreement that naturally involves good-faith negotiations about exchanging hostages and calling off Israel’s operation to fully occupy Gaza.
The timing of the strike raises questions about how it might affect ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the genocide on Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
