Israeli military confirms carrying out assassination attempt targeting top Hamas leaders in Doha

Israeli military has confirmed carrying out an assassination attempt targeting top Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha, where multiple explosions were reported yesterday.
 
Both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, acknowledged responsibility for the operation, marking the first known Israeli military action on Qatari soil.
 
According to a statement from Hamas, the Israeli strike killed five of its members, but failed to assassinate its negotiating delegation currently based in Doha.
 
The group confirmed that Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator and the apparent primary target of the strike, survived. However, his son and the director of his office were reportedly killed in the attack.
 
Both Qatar and Hamas stated that a Qatari security official was also killed, and several others were injured in the strike.
 
In a statement, Hamas held the United States jointly responsible for the attack, citing Washington’s continued support for Israeli aggression and crimes against our people.
 
The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a cowardly act, describing it as a blatant violation of international laws and norms.
 
Meanwhile, the White House said the Israeli operation in Doha ran counter to President Donald Trump’s efforts to achieve peace in Gaza.
 
Speaking to the media, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the attack, which occurred in a residential neighbourhood in Doha, was unfortunate.
 
She added that the Trump administration was notified of the situation yesterday morning, ahead of the strike. 
 
Leavitt also described Qatar as a sovereign nation and a close US ally, praising its ongoing role in attempting to broker a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.