Doha/ Islamabad – Israel has confirmed it carried out a strike targeting senior Hamas leaders, with multiple explosions reported in the Qatari capital, Doha. The attack marks a dramatic escalation in the regional conflict, raising urgent questions about sovereignty, international law, and the widening scope of Israel’s war.

Israel’s Strike and Objectives

“Israel conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas organisation,” the Israeli military said, without specifying the exact location.

A senior Israeli official told local media that the operation targeted Hamas deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya and senior official Zaher Jabareen. According to Saudi channel Al Arabiya, al-Hayya, who also served as Hamas’s chief negotiator, was killed in the strike.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that United States President Donald Trump gave a “green light” for the operation and that Washington had been notified beforehand. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later insisted: “Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”

The conflicting narratives highlight the delicate US-Israel-Qatar triangle, particularly as Doha hosts a major US military base and mediates ceasefire talks.

Explosions Rock Doha

Reports from Doha described multiple explosions with smoke rising above residential neighborhoods. Al Jazeera correspondent Suhaib al-Assa said the targeted site was “very close to residential buildings,” underscoring the high-risk nature of the strike.

Footage shared on social media showed plumes of smoke over the city. The Israeli army framed the operation as an assassination attempt on top Hamas leaders. A Hamas source confirmed to Al Jazeera that the strike hit Hamas negotiators while they were meeting to discuss Trump’s ceasefire proposal.

Qatar’s Strong Condemnation as Israel Strikes Hamas Leaders in Doha

Qatar reacted swiftly, denouncing the strike as a “cowardly” violation of sovereignty.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari wrote on X.

The full statement from Doha described the assault as “a blatant violation of all international laws and norms” and confirmed that investigations are underway at the highest level. Qatari officials also warned that such actions threaten “the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”

The Qatar News Agency echoed the statement, posting that Doha “will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior” and reaffirming that an investigation is being conducted at the highest level

Global and Regional Reactions

• Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Secretary General Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the attack as “heinous” and a direct assault on Qatari sovereignty.
• Iran labeled it a “gross violation” of international law and a “dangerous threat to regional stability.”
• The US Embassy in Doha issued a shelter-in-place order for its staff, acknowledging “reports of missile strikes.” The White House has yet to officially respond, though Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to address the incident later today.

The muted US response underscores Washington’s precarious position: balancing its alliance with Israel while relying on Qatar as a diplomatic mediator and strategic military partner.

Israeli Political Response

Inside Israel, political leaders framed the strike as a success. Opposition leader Yair Lapid congratulated the country’s security forces for an “exceptional operation,” while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised the move as the “correct decision,” declaring that “terrorists have no and will have no immunity from the long arm of Israel anywhere in the world.”

Humanitarian Toll in Gaza

The Doha strike comes against the backdrop of a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Medical sources report that at least 35 people were killed across the Strip in the past 24 hours, including seven aid seekers.

Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive has killed 64,605 Palestinians and wounded 163,319, with thousands more believed trapped under rubble. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, with about 200 taken captive.

Expanding Israeli Military Reach

The Doha strike marks the first direct Israeli strike on Qatari soil, a move observers say could reshape the region’s political and diplomatic dynamics. Observers view it as a dangerous expansion of Israel’s regional campaign. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have carried out strikes not only in Gaza but also in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Tunisia, where a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was reportedly targeted by a drone, highlighting the widening geographic scope of Israel’s campaign.

Analysts note that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously threatened to pursue Hamas leaders abroad, explicitly mentioning Qatar and Turkey. Regional reports suggest that members of Islamic Jihad may also have been present at the Doha meeting that was struck.

By striking in Qatar, Israel has for the first time attacked a country seen as a key mediator in Middle East diplomacy, raising fears of broader regional destabilisation. Analysts warn this could complicate ongoing ceasefire talks and put Washington in an awkward position, given its military footprint in Doha.

Also See: Israeli Air Force Reportedly Strikes Homs, Latakia, and Palmyra in Syria

Context and Implications

The Israeli strike on Doha is seen as unprecedented, given Qatar’s established role as a mediator in ceasefire talks and its position as a US security partner hosting a major American military base.

While Israel insists the attack was an independent operation, reports of US foreknowledge, coupled with Qatar’s swift condemnation, signal that the fallout could be both diplomatic and military. For Gaza, the attack comes at a time when ceasefire negotiations were underway, raising concerns that efforts could be derailed. For the wider region, it risks drawing in additional powers, further blurring the lines between battlegrounds, with multiple Arab capitals already witnessing Israeli military actions in recent weeks.

Also See : Israel’s Airstrike on Hamas Leadership in Qatar Sparks International Outcry and Diplomatic Row

This is a developing story. HTN World will continue to update as more details emerge.