After days of threats against Hamas officials, Israel attacked the terrorist organization in Qatar. It is not yet known whether any leadership members were killed. Qatar reacted with outrage and intends to suspend its mediating role.
The Israeli military says it has attacked the leadership of the militant Islamist Hamas in Qatar. The military said the targeted attack was carried out jointly with the Shin Bet intelligence agency in Doha. The Hamas leadership members have directed the terrorist organization's operations for years, bear direct responsibility for the massacre of October 7, 2023, and are directing the war against the State of Israel.
The Israeli government declared the attack a direct response to the attack claimed by the armed wing of Hamas, which left six people dead at a bus stop in Jerusalem the previous day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security forces immediately after the attack"to prepare for the possibility of an attack on Hamas leaders," according to a statement released by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The possibility of an attack then arose today.
Black smoke rose above the Doha skyline; authorities confirmed an attack. Hamas sources told Al Jazeera that the attack targeted the terrorist organization's negotiating team. Qatar is one of the key mediators in Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Al-Haja is said to have survived the attack
It is still unclear whether there were any fatalities. Al-Arabiya reported, citing information available shortly after the attack, that al-Haja had been killed. Confirmation of the deaths of al-Haja or other Hamas officials has not yet been received.
The Reuters news agency, however, reported, citing Hamas sources, that the negotiating team survived the attack. Al Jazeera also reported, citing a Hamas official, that the group's leadership survived the attack. According to Al Jazeera, one of al-Haya's sons was killed in the attack.
Al-Haya is the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad, who also leads the Hamas delegation in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel. Al-Haya spent most of his time in Qatar. Other senior Hamas officials abroad also mostly live in Qatar or Turkey.
Qatar suspends mediation role
Qatar strongly condemned the"cowardly" attack. It targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Hamas political bureau, said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari. He called it a"flagrant violation of all international laws and norms" and a "serious threat to the security" of the people of Qatar.
The incident is now being investigated at the highest level, al-Ansari said. Qatar has also temporarily suspended its role as mediator between the two conflicting parties, Israel and Hamas, in the Gaza war. This is the first military attack on the Gulf emirate of Qatar since its independence more than 50 years ago.
Trump was apparently informed
US President Donald Trump gave the green light for the attack, according to a media report. Israeli television station Channel 12 reported this, citing an Israeli government official. Just a few days ago, the US president had issued a"final warning" to Hamas against agreeing to a peace agreement.
Qatar is an important ally of the USA and is home to the Al-Udaid Air Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East.
However, according to Israeli statements, the attack itself was a purely Israeli operation. Israel initiated and carried it out and takes full responsibility, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Platform X.
"Historic decision" for Israel
Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote in response to the attack in Qatar that Jewish blood could no longer be shed with impunity. The decision to attack was"another historic decision in a series of important and historic resolutions we have made," he wrote on X."I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until I have destroyed them," he quoted from the Bible.
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon also praised the attack."The precise attack in Doha targeted leading Hamas members who planned the October 7 massacre and celebrated the abduction of our citizens," Danon wrote on Platform X."I congratulate our security forces on this courageous and precise operation."
Impact on negotiations unclear
Relatives of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas, however, have expressed grave concern. They fear the hostages could now 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 taken 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."
Bente Scheller, head of the Middle East department at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, confirmed in an interview with tagesschau24 that it is not yet clear to what extent the attack will weaken the ceasefire negotiations."Because someone has to negotiate; you have to have a negotiating partner at the table, even if you consider it a terrorist organization and don't actually want to deal with it."
Netanyahu has always relied on military strategies in the past,"even though most of the hostages were released through negotiations," Scheller said."He is closing a door that is urgently needed."
Attack as a distraction?
According to the political scientist, the timing of the attack could possibly be explained by several factors. First, there is criticism of the ongoing major offensive in the Gaza Strip, including from the Israeli civilian population. Such a maneuver could distract from that. Furthermore, Netanyahu has always said he sees a future for the Gaza Strip only without Hamas. The attack in Doha is a further sign that he is prepared"to do everything to make that happen," Scheller told tagesschau24.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that Netanyahu remains on trial in Israel on corruption charges."Today, he would have had another court hearing. It might be a welcome distraction if everyone is looking toward Doha, toward a new victory against Hamas, and not so much at what is being discussed here in court."
Outrage in the Middle East
Iran's government has described the Israeli attack on the Hamas leadership in Doha as a "violation of the principles, purposes, and rules of the Charter of the United Nations." Jordan called the attack a "cowardly act of aggression." The United Arab States announced that it stands firmly by its sister state, Qatar.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also 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."
Israel threatened Hamas officials abroad
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 Zamir threatened attacks on Hamas leaders abroad."We are not finished with our actions," 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 sharp warning to Hamas on Monday."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 wrote on X.
All clear in Doha
According to local authorities, there is no longer any danger in the Qatari capital Doha following the Israeli attack."The situation is safe," the Interior Ministry announced."Special teams" are carrying out their duties. Residents were urged to obtain information only from official sources and not to trust or spread rumors, for example on social media. All steps are being taken to maintain"the normalcy of public life."
The Federal Foreign Office stated that a "further escalation of the security situation" could not be ruled out."Further security-related incidents in Qatar" or disruption to air traffic were also possible. Qatar Airways stated that there had been no flight cancellations or other disruptions.
