Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatar

DOHA,— Israel struck Hamas Islamist leadership in Qatar on Tuesday in an escalation that reached into the Gulf state just as its capital was hosting discussions over a U.S. proposal to halt fighting in Gaza, officials said.

The attack triggered plumes of black smoke over Doha, according to witnesses. Qatari authorities confirmed the strike but did not immediately disclose casualties.

Qatar, which has been a key mediator alongside Egypt during nearly two years of conflict, denounced the action as a “cowardly violation of international law.” The Foreign Ministry said the strike represented a breach of the country’s sovereignty and warned that such attacks endangered broader regional security.

The strike followed an attack a day earlier, when two Hamas gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the northern outskirts of Jerusalem, killing six Israeli civilians.

Residents in Doha reported several blasts near the Legtifya petrol station. A small residential compound close to the site, guarded around the clock by Qatari forces, was also affected.

Within an hour, ambulances and at least 15 police and government vehicles were at the location. Witnesses described heightened security around nearby neighborhoods.

Israel’s military confirmed its forces carried out the strike, describing it as a “precise operation” targeting Hamas leaders it said were responsible for the October 2023 assault in southern Israel. Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesman, cited the use of “intelligence and precision munitions.”

An Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that the attack sought to eliminate senior figures, including members of Hamas’ negotiating team.

Hamas sources told Reuters their officials in Doha survived the assault. Al Jazeera television, citing a Hamas contact, reported that the strike targeted individuals involved in ongoing truce talks.

The U.S. Embassy in Doha issued a shelter-in-place order, advising American citizens to remain indoors. Washington did not immediately comment on whether the attack would affect mediation.

Despite the explosions, Qatar Airways flights continued normal operations. Residents reported seeing a Qatari air force jet conducting patrols after the incident.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “initiated and executed” the operation, taking full responsibility.

The announcement followed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week warning Hamas that time was running out to accept a ceasefire plan.

Since the October 2023 deadly Hamas assault, Israel has killed several of the group’s top leaders and extended its military actions into Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have targeted Hezbollah, while in Yemen the focus has been the Iran-aligned Houthi group. Both have launched attacks on Israel during the Gaza war.

Tuesday’s strike on Qatari territory is the second time the Gulf nation has come under direct fire since hostilities began.

Qatar also hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the U.S. military’s forward headquarters for Central Command, which came under Iranian attack during last year’s Iran-Israel confrontation.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with Khaled Meshaal — Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar (R) shakes hands with Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Palestinian Islamist Jihad group Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, Doha, Qatar, October 17, 2016. Photo: diwan.gov.qa

Qatar, a Gulf state with a long record of Islamist ties, has repeatedly been accused of bankrolling extremist organizations and giving safe haven to radical movements.

For years, Doha has openly supported Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, both designated by several countries as terrorist groups. Western and Arab officials also link Qatar to funding and promotion of jihadist factions, including the Islamic State group.

Doha has been described as a safe haven for Hamas leaders and other radical Islamist groups, offering them political protection and a base of operations.

Its capital has hosted exiled figures who continue to coordinate activities against Israel and other regional governments. Critics say this sanctuary has allowed militant networks to maintain their global reach and fundraising operations.

Beyond financial backing, Qatar has been accused of funneling advanced weapons to militants in Syria and Libya, fueling wars that devastated those countries.

Its state-run network, Al Jazeera, has broadcast messages from clerics who called for suicide bombings against Americans, Europeans and Israelis, amplifying extremist rhetoric to a global audience.

Qatar also maintains ties with the Taliban, offering political legitimacy to a group responsible for decades of violence in Afghanistan.

The country’s conduct provoked a major regional crisis in 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties and imposed a blockade.

The quartet charged Qatar with financing terrorism, undermining its neighbors, and building close ties with Iran. The embargo crippled Qatar’s trade routes and airspace access until it was lifted in January 2021, but critics argue Doha’s policies have remained unchanged.

(With files from Reuters | AP | Agencies)