Israel launched attacks targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday. Explosions were heard in approximately eight locations within minutes. The attacks were aimed at Hamas’s political team, which was discussing a Gaza ceasefire. According to official statements from Qatar, these attacks targeted the residential buildings of Hamas leaders. A senior Israeli official stated to CNN that the targeted individuals included Khalil al-Hayya, a key Hamas negotiator. Al Jazeera reported that the Hamas leadership survived the attack in Doha. Hamas official al-Hindi said that the assassination attempt on Khalil al-Hayya and other Hamas leaders, who were meeting to discuss Trump’s ceasefire proposal, was unsuccessful. However, five lower-ranking members were killed. The Hamas official reported that Humam, al-Hayya’s son, and a top aide were killed in the attack. Qatar’s Interior Ministry announced that a member of the country’s security forces was killed and several others were injured in the attack. This attack risks derailing the renewed peace efforts and increasing tensions in the region, as both Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled al-Mashal were involved in the peace talks. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majid al-Ansari, said that several residential buildings of members of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha were targeted in this cowardly Israeli attack.
This attack has sparked a wave of anger in Arab countries. Almost all Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have condemned the attack. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated its strong condemnation of the brutal Israeli aggression and the grave violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and showed its full solidarity with Qatar. Saudi Arabia has warned Israel of the serious consequences resulting from the gross violation of the principles of international law and all norms. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack. The UN chief said, “All parties must work to achieve a lasting ceasefire, not destroy it.”
