Haja is the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad, who also leads the Hamas delegation in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel. Haja spent most of his time in Qatar. Other senior Hamas officials abroad also mostly live in Qatar and Turkey.

"For years, these members of the Hamas leadership directed the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal massacre on October 7, and orchestrated and directed the war against the State of Israel," the Israeli military said.

Qatar speaks of attack on residential areas

Qatar strongly condemned the attack, which targeted neighborhoods where members of the Hamas political office lived, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari said. He called it a"flagrant violation of all international laws and norms" and a "serious threat to the security" of the people of Qatar.

A large plume of smoke was visible after the explosion in the Qatari capital, as reported by the television channels al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera. The Qatari news site Doha News showed a destroyed building with a black SUV parked in front of it. Doha News also reported that Israel had attacked the Hamas negotiating team.

Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, is mediating in the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. However, ceasefire negotiations have not progressed for months. Meanwhile, the Israeli government intends to completely take over Gaza City militarily.

Guterres: “Blatant violation of sovereignty”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli attack in Qatar as a"flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the Gulf state. Qatar is playing a very positive role in efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas, Guterres told reporters."All parties must work toward a lasting ceasefire, not destroy it."

The attack also sparked sharp criticism in the Arab world. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, called the attack"blatant and cowardly." Regional power Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the "brutal Israeli aggression" against Qatar's sovereignty. The attack is likely to severely damage efforts toward a ceasefire.

Egypt: “Dangerous precedent”

Egypt called on the international community to act and hold those responsible accountable. The attack sets a"dangerous precedent" and is an unacceptable development, the office of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said. Israel's escalation undermines international efforts to de-escalate tensions. Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait also condemned the attack. The Arab League described the attack as an unacceptable violation of Qatari sovereignty.

Relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas now fear that the hostages could pay the price for Israel's actions, according to a statement from the relatives' forum."We know from the survivors who have returned that the revenge meted out against the hostages is brutal," it continued."The chance of bringing them back is now more uncertain than ever – with one absolute certainty: their time is running out." There are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are still alive, according to Israeli information.

Demands on Qatar to close the Hamas office

Following the unrest of the Arab uprisings in the region, Hamas opened a political office in Qatar in 2012. Even before that, significant amounts of money had flowed from the Gulf emirate to Hamas, which had seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, calls for the Qatari government to close the office grew louder.

Ten days ago, Israeli Chief of Staff Ejal Samir threatened attacks on Hamas leaders abroad."We are not finished with our actions yet," he said after an attack on Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida."Most Hamas leaders are abroad, and we will reach them as well."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also issued a stark warning to Hamas on Monday."Today, a massive hurricane will sweep across the skies of Gaza City, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake," Katz wrote in a post on the X platform."This is the final warning to the Hamas murderers and rapists in Gaza and in the luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages and lay down your weapons—or Gaza will be destroyed, and you will be annihilated," Katz continued.

Warnings to Hamas from Israel and the USA

US President Donald Trump had previously issued a"final warning" to Hamas, urging a diplomatic solution shortly before Israel's further advance into Gaza City. Israel had accepted its terms, and it was time for Hamas to accept them as well, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Hamas responded by expressing its readiness for"immediate negotiations." He welcomed "any step that contributes to ending the aggression against our people."

Since the start of the Gaza War almost two years ago, Israel has killed numerous high-ranking Hamas leaders and commanders in the Gaza Strip, including Yahya al-Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. Israel killed Hamas's then-political leader, Ismail Haniya, in an attack in Tehran.