Israel attacks Hamas senior leadership in Qatar

Israel’s air force carried out a strike on Hamas’s senior political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Israeli officials said, expanding its fight against the terrorist group as it ramps up the war in the Gaza Strip.

“The IDF and ISA [Shin Bet] conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

“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.

Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence,” the IDF added. “The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre,” it also said.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack in a statement. “The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly Israeli attack targeting the residential headquarters of several members of the Hamas Political Bureau in the Qatari capital, Doha,” the statement said.

Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin were the two targets of the Israeli strikes according to initial reports. Al-Hayya recently was involved in talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the remaining hostages being held by the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas.

Zaher Jabarin is responsible for Hamas’ finances and is a key player in the terrorist organization’s West Bank operations. He reportedly was involved in the negotiations as well, although his role was less prominent.

“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”