Israel carried out an attack targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said, in what appeared to be the first known Israeli military strike against the militant group in the Gulf nation.
A senior Israeli official told CNN that among those targeted was Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya.
“We are awaiting the results of the strike,” the official said.
The Qatari foreign ministry’s spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said “the cowardly Israeli attack” targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Hamas political bureau in Doha.
“While strongly condemning this attack, the State of Qatar emphasizes that it will not tolerate this reckless and irresponsible Israeli behavior,” Al Ansari said on X.
Qatar has been a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, maintaining direct channels with the US, Israel and Hamas. It has also hosted multiple rounds of negotiations, and senior Israeli officials – including the head of the Mossad spy agency and top Israeli negotiators – have visited Doha. Whether such visits will continue remains uncertain.
A senior Hamas official confirmed to CNN that the group’s negotiators were targeted in Doha.
The Israeli source who spoke to CNN said the United States was informed ahead of the strike. CNN has reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.
In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “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.”
The short missive appeared designed to distance the US from the Israeli attack on a critical American ally in the Middle East.
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said the operation was called “Summit of Fire.”
CNN
