Israel’s assaults on Hamas in Qatar stun the Gulf and sprint possibilities for a Gaza ceasefire

DOHA, Qatar — Qatar has slammed Israel’s assault concentrating on Hamas leaders on its soil as an act of “state terrorism” after an upscale suburb in its capital, Doha, was rocked with explosions that killed six folks and dashed hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza, the place the Gulf Arab state is a mediator.

The assault shocked the tiny Gulf nation, which is a U.S. ally that hosts Hamas leaders in exile in addition to 1000’s of U.S. troops on the biggest air base for American forces within the Center East. Qatar can also be the place President Trump visited in Could and lavished reward on the nation’s management for its position as a mediator in conflicts world wide.

That position, nevertheless, has drawn it into the orbit of Israel’s many wars within the area, together with in June when the U.S. army base in Qatar got here beneath Iranian missile assault throughout a 12-day warfare between Israel and Iran that additionally noticed the U.S. get instantly concerned. Iran’s missiles have been intercepted with advance warning. Israel has additionally attacked Syria, Lebanon and Yemen this week.

Tuesday’s assault by Israel on Hamas in Doha got here with no advance warning, says Qatar’s prime minister. It struck part of Doha the place faculties, nurseries, embassies and houses are situated.

“This can only described as state terrorism,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani advised reporters after the assault. “This is a clear message to the region as a whole and that message is that there’s a rogue player in the region.”

He mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned he needs to vary the Center East. “Is this a message that he wants to change the Gulf region, too?”

Hamas mentioned the Israeli assault in Doha killed the son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Heyya, and 5 different lower-level males within the group. Qatar mentioned a Qatari safety officer was additionally killed. It was not independently confirmed if any of Israel’s meant targets have been killed.

“This once again reveals the criminal nature of the occupation and its desire to undermine any chances of reaching an agreement,” Hamas mentioned in an announcement.

Some Israeli officers appeared to acknowledge the strikes might not have killed their meant targets, with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter telling Fox Information, “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them next time.”

Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned on social media that Hamas leaders ought to disarm and launch hostages, or else they’d all be killed and Gaza might be destroyed. “Israel’s long arm will act against its enemies anywhere,” he wrote. “There is no place where they can hide.”

Israeli safety officers mentioned the nation’s air drive dropped greater than 10 munitions within the assault on Qatar, in keeping with Israeli media.

Netanyahu defended the assault at a U.S. Embassy occasion in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

“The days are over when terrorist leaders enjoy immunity anywhere. I will not allow such immunity for the murderers of our people,” he mentioned, referencing the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023, on Israel, that killed 1,200 folks, in keeping with Israeli officers.

Netanyahu oversaw the Doha operation’s execution alongside senior leaders from the Israeli army and home intelligence company, Shin Guess, after months of planning, in keeping with Israeli media.

The airstrikes appeared to catch Qatari political and army management without warning, with Israeli plane utilizing expertise to evade radar techniques, Al Thani mentioned.

He mentioned the U.S. notified Qatar 10 minutes after the assault about it coming. Trump mentioned he was “very unhappy” about Israel’s unilateral resolution to bomb Qatar, although he wrote in a put up on-line that eliminating Hamas is a worthy objective. Trump referred to as the Qatari Emir to each condemn the motion and supply reassurances that the U.S. had neither coordinated with Israel forward of the assault, nor obtained any prior discover of it, Qatar’s prime minister mentioned.

Al Thani mentioned the assault was geared toward Hamas’ negotiating group because it was finding out a brand new U.S. proposal that would finish the warfare in Gaza, however he mentioned Israel has labored to sabotage each try at reaching peace.

Israel’s warfare in Gaza since has killed greater than 64,000 folks, a 3rd of them kids, in keeping with Gaza’s Well being Ministry. Israel’s assault on Hamas’ leaders within the Gulf comes as its army is finishing up an offensive to occupy all of Gaza Metropolis and forcibly displace its practically 1 million residents.

Efforts to finish the practically two-year-long warfare and free remaining Israeli hostages have been thrown into jeopardy after Israel’s assault on Qatar, which had hosted Israeli negotiators in inns in Doha and would shuffle between flooring carrying messages between them and the Hamas leaders in exile.

“Qatar has spared no effort in order to end this war and will do whatever it can to stop this war, to stop this hostility on Gaza,” Qatar’s prime minster mentioned.

However he refused to decide to a continued position for Qatar in these Gaza talks after the assault.

“When it comes to the current talks, I don’t think there is something valid right now, while — after we’re seeing such an attack,” he mentioned.

Solely a small fraction of the practically 150 hostages launched from Gaza prior to now two years have been instantly freed by Israeli army operations, with the remainder freed by means of Qatari and Egyptian mediation. The households of the 48 captives that stay contained in the Palestinian territory, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, mentioned after the assault on Qatar that “the chances of bringing them back are now more uncertain than ever.”

The position of the Qatari authorities within the on-again-off-again negotiations between Israel and Hamas has been essential, alongside Egypt, and if the authorities in Doha weren’t notified upfront of the strike it could be “extraordinary, and not in a good way,” in keeping with Michael Koplow, the chief coverage officer on the Israel Coverage Discussion board, who usually briefs members of Congress on regional coverage issues.

“Unclear how any negotiations can ever continue given Doha’s status as the venue,” Koplow wrote in an e-mail, including that “maybe that was the aim.”

Aya Batrawy reported from Doha, Qatar. Daniel Estrin contributed reporting from Tel Aviv, Israel.