Israeli strike in Qatar targets Hamas leaders as they weigh Gaza ceasefire proposal
DOHA, Qatar – An Israeli airstrike targeted the political headquarters of Hamas in Qatar on Tuesday, striking a blow to the militant group’s leadership as they were in the midst of ceasefire negotiations. The attack, which Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly claimed responsibility for, has been widely condemned by Qatar and other nations, threatening to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
The strike killed five members of Hamas, including the son of a top negotiator, and a Qatari security officer, according to a statement from Hamas. While the militant group insisted its most senior leaders survived, the attack marks a significant escalation of Israel’s campaign against Hamas.
The Israeli military stated that the strike was carried out with “precise munitions and additional intelligence” to minimize civilian casualties, and it vowed to continue operations against the group’s leadership.
Qatar has denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.” Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the country “will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior.” The strike has also thrown the future of ceasefire talks into doubt, with Qatar’s Prime Minister questioning the viability of the current negotiations.
The attack has also put the United States in a difficult position. The White House said Israel alerted it before the strike, and President Donald Trump called the strike an “unfortunate incident” that doesn’t advance peace in the region. However, Qatari officials claim they were only warned as the explosions were being heard, contradicting the U.S. claim of an advance notification.
