Israeli military confirms attacking Doha, says target was Hamas leadership

The Israeli military has confirmed that in cooperation with domestic security agency Shin Bet, its air force carried out an assassination attempt on the top leadership of Hamas in the Qatari capital.

It claimed that the unnamed Hamas members who were attacked led the organisation’s activities for years, adding that it will continue to act to “defeat the Hamas terrorist organisation”.

The attack comes days after Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir threatened to assassinate Hamas leaders living abroad, and hours after Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed that Israel has accepted the Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by the US.

Hamas source says negotiating team was targeted in Israeli attack on Doha this afternoon. Israeli army has confirmed targeting Qatar’s capital.

At least 35 people, including seven aid seekers, have been killed by Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip, medical sources say.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened what he’s calling an intense ground operation in Gaza City, warning Palestinians in the northern urban centre to leave.

Hamas has condemned Netanyahu’s threats and denounced the ongoing destruction of Gaza City’s high-rises, including the as-Salam tower, as “one of the most heinous images of sadism and criminality”.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 64,605 people and wounded 163,319 since October 2023. Thousands more are believed to be under the rubble. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, says in a statement that 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.

“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,” the statement reads.

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