The Israeli military (IDF) carried out an airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha early Tuesday afternoon, SkyNews reports. An Israeli official acknowledged to Axios that the terrorist organization's leaders were the targets of the attack, and the statement was later released.
According to the IDF, intelligence was monitoring the target and precision weapons were used to protect civilians.
“The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency carried out a precision strike against the senior leadership of Hamas. These leaders of the terrorist organization have directed its operations for years and are directly responsible for the October 7 massacre and are directing the war against the state of Israel,” they wrote. According to Reuters, the targets included Khalil al-Hajja, the head of the Gaza Strip.
The news agency, citing witnesses, reported that there were several explosions in Doha, where the terrorist organization's leaders have lived for years. SkyNews
reported that the target was a Hamas delegation conducting ceasefire talks. Reuters reported that they survived the attack, but the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya channel reported that al-Hajja had died. SkyNews later reported that the Hamas leaders survived the attack, but al-Hajja's son had died.Israel's Channel 12 reported that Israel had informed the United States in advance of the strike plan, which President Donald Trump had approved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X that the attack was an entirely Israeli action, for which they bear responsibility.
Qatar condemned the attack, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari calling the airstrike"a flagrant violation of international law and norms" in a post on X.
Countries in the Middle East are also condemning the attack, with Jordan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates issuing statements to this effect.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded by saying that"the targeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation during the continuation of ceasefire negotiations shows that Israel is not seeking to achieve peace, but to continue the war."
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the airstrike. He said the attacks took place in a country “that played a very positive role in achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages. I condemn this flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He added that “all parties must work to achieve a lasting ceasefire, not to destroy it.”
