Several explosions rocked Doha, the Qatari capital, on Tuesday, with witnesses describing smoke rising from the Katara neighborhood. The incident was initially reported by Israeli news organizations based on senior government sources.
Israeli Army Radio reported that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli Security Agency (ISA) conducted a pinpoint strike targeting senior Hamas leaders. The IDF claimed that those targeted were masterminds of attacks against Israel, including the October 7 attacks.
Two members of Hamas' ceasefire negotiation team survived despite the strike, according to two Hamas insiders speaking to Reuters.
Later, the Israeli military made a statement on X reaffirming that it had employed "accurate munitions" and moved on "further intelligence" to minimize civilian risk. It confirmed that the operations against Hamas command would continue.
"Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," Israeli prime minister said through a post on X.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials told Channel 12 that U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed his approval of the strike. In response to the heightened tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Doha issued an advisory urging American citizens to shelter in place and follow updates from @USEmbassyDoha.
The strike was against the negotiating team of Hamas while meeting in Doha, Al Jazeera reported, quoting a Hamas source. Israeli media quoted a senior official as naming the planned targets as Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, the deputy of Saleh al-Arouri. The official indicated that the result of the attack was still being evaluated.
AFP also cited a Hamas official who attested that the sitting had been arranged to negotiate the most recent ceasefire offer. "In a new Zionist crime, the Hamas negotiating delegation was attacked during its sitting in Doha, as they were discussing (US) President (Donald) Trump's offer for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," the official said off the record.
Qatar condemned the attack strongly, terming it a "cowardly" attack on residential apartments that were occupied by Hamas's political bureau members. "The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari posted on X.
"While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available," he added.
If true, this attack represents a stark escalation, the first reported Israeli military action in Qatari territory—a country that has long served as a central go-between between Israel and Hamas.
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