Israel strikes Hamas senior leadership in Qatar

The Israeli military and security services conducted a “precise” strike against senior leadership of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday. 

“The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and ISA [Israeli Security Agency] conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israeli military said in a statement Tuesday.

“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.” 

Several explosions were heard in Doha, according to local media reports, part of an attack that was immediately condemned by Qatar. 

The attack targeted residential headquarters housing a “number of members of Hamas’ political bureau” in Doha, according to a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, Majed al-Ansari. 

al-Ansari accused Israel of violating international laws and norms, saying the attack presented a threat to “security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”

Israel said that prior to the strike, measures were “taken” to “mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.”

“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre,” the military said in the statement. 

Tuesday’s attack against top Hamas officials was a “wholly” independent operation, initiated and conducted by the Israeli military, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which added that his country “takes full responsibility.” 

Following the strike, the Qatari government announced that it would suspend mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reported. 

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 

The IDF did not have further comment when contacted by The Hill on Tuesday. 

President Trump issued his “last warning” to Hamas on Sunday about a possible ceasefire agreement between the two sides, saying that Israel accepted my “teams.” 

“Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end! The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” the president wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!” 

Hamas then said it received some ideas from the U.S. side through mediators. 

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested that the Israeli strike in Qatar was retaliation for a stabbing attack against Israelis in Jerusalem by two Palestinians. Six people were killed in a stabbing attack by Palestinian terrorists, and several more severely wounded. Hamas praised the attack but did not claim credit. 

“Today, there’s news, six people were killed in a bus in Jerusalem by Hamas, and Israel responded by hitting Hamas in Doha, Qatar, which is a fairly extraordinary event,” McCaul said Tuesday morning, speaking during a panel discussion hosted by NOTUS. 

Hamas’s exiled leadership has resided in Qatar for years. Doha has been a mediator between Hamas, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, and Israel over the course of the Israel-Hamas war that began Oct. 7. 2023. 

Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement on Tuesday that “yesterday, following the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of targeting Hamas leaders.” 

After consulting with Israel security heads, Netanyahu and Katz “decided to implement the directive given last night to the IDF and the Shin Bet, who carried it out with precision and effectiveness.” 

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Hamas’s top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Doha on Monday. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel’s attack in Qatar. 

“We are just learning about Israeli attacks in Qatar, a country that has been playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and release of all hostages. I condemn this flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar,” Guterres said Tuesday at a press conference, according to Reuters. 

“All parties must work towards achieving a permanent cease fire, not destroying it,” the UN secretary-general added. 

The U.S. Embassy in Qatar said it has “seen” reports of missile strikes taking place in Doha and has instituted a “shelter-in-place order for their facilities.” 

“U.S. citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates,” the embassy wrote Tuesday morning on the social platform X.

Laura Kelly contributed

Updated at 11:21 a.m. EDT