Explosion in Qatar: Israel attacked a Hamas target in the Qatari capital. A Hamas official said a leader of the terrorist organization survived. His son and his office manager were killed.
Israel has attacked the leadership of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gulf state of Qatar."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.
According to Israeli media reports, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayyah was among the targets of the attack. The Al-Arabiya news channel reported that al-Hayyah was killed. There has been no confirmation of the death of al-Hayyah or any other Hamas official. A Hamas official, however, told Al Jazeera TV that al-Hayyah survived. However, one of al-Hayyah's sons and his office manager were killed.
According to the Qatari Ministry of Interior, one member of the Qatari security forces was killed. Other members of the force were injured.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari said Israel's attack targeted neighborhoods where members of Hamas's political office lived. Al-Jazeera and Doha News reported that Israel attacked the Hamas negotiating team.
More than ten Israeli Air Force fighter jets are said to have dropped ten bombs on a building, Israeli media reported, citing the military.
A large plume of smoke was visible after the explosions in the Qatari capital. Photos show a destroyed building, in front of which a black SUV and numerous police cars are parked.
A surveillance camera recorded the attack. Al-Arabiya published the footage.
The Israeli military itself spoke of a targeted attack on the Hamas leadership. The army did not provide any details about the location of the attack. It stated that steps had been taken to avoid endangering bystanders.
According to sources from American government sources, the United States was informed in advance about the attack. The AP news agency reports. It is unclear to what extent the United States was informed before the attack and whether it approved the operation.
Leading members of Congress appeared surprised by the attack."I can't assess this development at this time," said House Speaker Mike Johnson at his weekly press conference."We need to assess the situation first." Senate leaders, Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican John Thune, did not mention the attacks in their opening remarks on the Senate floor.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:"Today's action against the top Hamas terrorist leaders was a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel carried it out." Israeli television station Channel 12 had previously reported that US President Donald Trump had approved the attack in advance.
Netanyahu decided to"eliminate the Hamas leadership," according to official sources, after the attack in Jerusalem that left six dead and a deadly attack on soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised the attack."There is no and never will be immunity for the terrorists from the long arm of Israel—anywhere in the world," he wrote."A correct decision we made, and a perfect execution by the army and the (domestic intelligence agency) Shin Bet."
Arab states condemn attack
Qatar condemned the Israeli attack on Hamas representatives as "cowardly." The government declared the attack a blatant violation of international law. A high-level investigation is underway.
Jordan also condemned the attack. Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said on X that the attack constituted a blatant violation of international law. He called the military strike a continuation of the"brutal Israeli aggression" that threatened the security and stability of the entire region. The Arab League also criticized the attack.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also criticized the move, calling it a"blatant violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity." Qatar is playing a very positive role in efforts toward 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."
Hamas in Qatar
The Hamas leadership has long been based in Qatar, which acts as a mediator in the talks between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel in the Gaza war.
Al-Hayyah is the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad, who also leads the Hamas delegation in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel. Al-Hayyah spent most of his time in Qatar. Other senior Hamas officials abroad also mostly live in Qatar or Turkey.
Al-Hayyah described the massacres of Israelis on October 7, 2023, as a turning point in the history of the Palestinian cause, which struck Israel to its core. Hamas will continue to strive to wrest Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israel, al-Hayyah said. He added:"Our enemy will never see a moment of weakness from us."
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. After October 7, 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 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 sky 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 wrote.
ll/gubHayyahhaj with dpa/Reuters
