Israel Extends War to Qatar With Strike on Hamas Leadership
Israel launched an airstrike Tuesday in Doha, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer in what appears to be its first known operation on Qatari soil.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) confirmed the strike in a joint statement, calling it a precision operation against Hamas leadership “directly responsible” for the October 7 attacks and ongoing hostilities.
“The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the statement read. “Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.”
The operation, conducted by the Israeli Air Force, hit a residential area in Doha. Among those killed were the son of senior Hamas leader Dr. Khalil al-Hayya and one of his aides. Al-Hayya, reportedly the main target, survived, according to Hamas.
Qatar condemned the strike. “The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly Israeli attack targeting the residential headquarters of several members of the Hamas Political Bureau in the Qatari capital, Doha,” the statement obtained by Fox News read.
“This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar,” the statement added.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Israel informed the U.S. of the strike, and President Donald Trump instructed his team to alert Qatari officials ahead of the Israeli attack on Hamas leadership, saying he “feels very badly” about its location.
Qatar however rejected this claim, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari saying that assertions the government had been informed in advance of the attack are false.
Meanwhile, Hamas condemned the strike as an assault on Qatar’s sovereignty.
“This crime represents an attack on the sovereignty of the sister State of Qatar, which, alongside sister Egypt, plays an important and responsible role in sponsoring mediation and efforts aimed at halting the aggression and reaching a ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agreement,” Hamas said in a statement Tuesday.
The strike on the key U.S. ally came as efforts resumed to broker a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar has been a primary mediator in the talks since the October 7 attacks.
