Israel carries out strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar

Israel has carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital Doha. Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising above the city, as the ceasefire negotiating delegation was meeting, a Hamas official said.

A statement released by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) stated that it conducted a “precise strike” targeted at Hamas senior leaders. “Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence,” the statement added.

A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry has condemned the attack. Dr Majed Al Ansari says the strike hit a residential premises “where a number of members of Hamas’ political bureau reside in the Qatari capital, Doha”.

He added that the attack constitutes a “blatant violation” of international laws as well as a “serious threat” to those in Qatar. “The State of Qatar strongly condemns this attack, and affirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the continuous tampering with the security of the region and any action aimed at its security and sovereignty,” the statement concluded.

It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the attack. The assault is the second time the energy-rich nation has been directly attacked in the Israel-Hamas War. Qatar has served as a key negotiator in efforts to end the conflict. It also raises questions about whether negotiations will continue immediately.