Israel launches strike on Qatar in bid to wipe out Hamas leadership

Israel have launched a strike targeting Hamas' leadership in Qatar, shattering hopes of a Gaza peace deal.

Soon after enormous explosions ripped through the city of Doha, Qatar issued a furious statement against Israel branding it a “criminal attack.” Most of the main peace talks over Gaza have taken places in Doha, a diplomatic haven where Hamas leadership felt safe to negotiate.

At least five explosions were heard and large blasts rocked Doha as plumes of smoke blackened the air above the city and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene of the strikes. The US embassy in Doha issued emergency orders for citizens to take shelter immediately during the attack, launched during the afternoon.

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Targets of the attack included senior Hamas leaders who are based in the city and who have played a leading role in peace talks, brokered by the US and the Qataris.

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the strike on Doha shows that "terrorists do not and will not have immunity" anywhere in the world. He called the strike the "right decision" and says it had "perfect execution" by the Israeli military and counterintelligence services.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office boasted: “Today’s action against top terror chiefs of Hamas was a wholly independent operation.. Israel takes responsibility for it.”

It was the first time Israel has launched such an operation on Qatar and Hamas claimed immediately none of its leaders had been killed.

Israel’s air strikes on peaceful Qatar came as Gaza City is suffering a major assault by Israeli forces hunting down Hamas.

The Israeli military said that loud explosions seen and heard in the Qatari capital Doha were the result of an assassination attempt against members of the Hamas leadership and senior officials.

It is the first such attack by Israel in Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has been bombarding Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria, as well as carrying out daily attacks in the occupied West Bank in Palestine.

Israel’s military released a statement saying “The IDF and Shin Bet, through the Air Force, recently carried out a targeted attack on the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.

“The members of the leadership who were attacked led the terrorist organization’s activities for years, and are directly responsible for carrying out the October 7 massacre and waging the war against the State of Israel,” it added.

The statement said that before the attack, “steps were taken to minimize harm to uninvolved people, including the use of precision weapons and additional intelligence information.”

In a statement, Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said the country “condemns in the strongest terms” the attack, which he said was carried out on residential buildings housing several members of the Hamas political bureau.”

He continued: “This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar.

“While strongly condemning this attack, the State of Qatar affirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and its continued tampering with regional security, as well as any action targeting its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they become available.”

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