Israel has declared that it will continue its campaign to dismantle and defeat Hamas, despite ongoing international negotiations for a ceasefire. The latest incident took place in Qatar’s capital, Doha, where Israeli forces, in coordination with the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, attempted to assassinate senior Hamas leaders. According to Israeli authorities, the operation specifically targeted top figures of the Hamas political bureau who were reportedly holding discussions on a new US ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Channel 12 reported that the strike had been approved by then–US President Donald Trump, though Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office quickly issued a statement clarifying that the operation had been independently conceived and executed. The statement asserted that “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.” In its own announcement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation and stated that it had directed precise munitions at senior Hamas operatives linked to the October 7 massacre. The IDF added that measures had been taken to reduce civilian casualties, while reiterating its vow to continue acting “with determination” against Hamas.
Among those targeted were Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, both prominent Hamas leaders. However, Israeli officials stressed that none of the Hamas negotiators engaged in ceasefire talks were injured in the strike. According to reports from Axios and eyewitnesses on the ground, explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising from Doha’s Katara District, a well-known area in the city, suggesting the blasts were part of the Israeli operation.
The timing of the strike was particularly sensitive, as it coincided with a meeting of the Hamas delegation in Qatar to deliberate over the latest ceasefire proposal from Washington. Observers noted that the attack could be perceived as an attempt to derail or undermine international mediation efforts. Meanwhile, inside Gaza, Israeli forces escalated their campaign by ordering the full evacuation of Gaza City. Leaflets dropped over the city instructed residents to move from the northern areas to the coast before heading south, signaling an imminent ground operation.
Qatar, which has played a key role alongside Egypt in mediating ceasefire negotiations, reacted with outrage. The country’s foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation, describing the Israeli strike as “cowardly” and a blatant violation of international law. Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari accused Israel of endangering Qatari citizens and residents by targeting residential buildings in the capital. He warned that Qatar would “not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior” or any action that threatened the nation’s security, sovereignty, or regional stability.
The condemnation highlighted the serious diplomatic fallout that the strike has triggered, especially as it targeted Hamas officials in a nation actively facilitating peace talks. For Qatar, the incident was framed not only as an attack on foreign operatives but also as a direct threat to its national security and its role as a regional mediator.
The Doha strike also followed escalating rhetoric from Israeli leaders. Earlier in the week, army chief Eyal Zamir publicly threatened to pursue Hamas leaders abroad, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Israel had accepted the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal. The juxtaposition of these statements with the subsequent strike in Qatar reflects Israel’s dual strategy of engaging in negotiations while simultaneously maintaining maximum pressure on Hamas through targeted military operations.
Taken together, the events in Doha illustrate the increasingly volatile intersection of military escalation, international diplomacy, and regional security. The assassination attempt has not only raised questions about Israel’s commitment to ceasefire negotiations but also placed Qatar, a key mediator, directly in the line of conflict.
