DOHA – Israel launched an audacious attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar on Sept 9, expanding its military actions that have ranged across the Middle East to include the Gulf Arab state where the Palestinian Islamist group has long had its political base.

Qatar, which has acted as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks on a ceasefire in the almost two-year-old war in Gaza, said Israel had targeted residential buildings in Doha housing Hamas political bureau members.

Two Hamas sources told Reuters that Hamas officials in the ceasefire negotiating team survived the attack. Israeli officials told Reuters the strike was aimed at top Hamas leaders, including Mr Khalil al-Hayya, its exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator.

Qatar condemned the Israeli action as “cowardly” and called it a flagrant violation of international law.

In a statement, the Israeli military said: “For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organisation’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 (2023) massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.”

“The name of the operation in Doha is Summit of Fire. These were air strikes,” an Israeli military official told AFP.

Several blasts were heard in Qatar’s capital, Reuters witnesses said.

Plumes of black smoke were billowing from the city’s Legtaifiya petrol station. Next door to the petrol station is a small residential compound that has been guarded by Qatar’s emiri guard 24 hours a day since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

Ambulances and at least 15 police and unmarked government cars thronged the streets around the blast site an hour after the strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s targeting of Hamas leaders was a “wholly independent” operation.

“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” a statement from the office said. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility.”

A White House official said Israel had notified the United States before it carried out air strikes. “We were informed in advance,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity about the strike on Qatar, a key US ally that is home to a large US military base.

Washington urged nationals in Doha to shelter in place. “US citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates,” the US embassy posted.

UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty.

Iran, a key backer of Hamas, condemned the attack as a “gross violation of all international rules and regulations, a violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an attack on Palestinian negotiators”.

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi calling it “an extension of the brutal Israeli aggression that threatens the security and stability of the region”.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed wrote on X that his country stood “in full solidarity with dear Qatar”.

Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, also condemned the attack.

Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders since the Palestinian militant group attacked it in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

It has also launched air strikes and other military action in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.

In Lebanon, it attacked the heavily armed Iran-backed group Hezbollah and in Yemen, it launched air strikes on the Iran-aligned Houthi group. Both groups have launched strikes on Israel during the Gaza conflict.

The assault in Doha is likely to deal a serious, if not fatal blow to efforts to reach a ceasefire, especially since it took place in the Gulf Arab country which has hosted several rounds of talks. REUTERS, AFP