Israel has launched a deadly attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar, in an assault that threatens to plunge the region into a wider conflict.
Israel media, citing a senior Israeli official, said the attack was aimed at top Hamas leaders including Khalil al-Hayya, its Gaza chief.
Al-Jazeera reported that Hamas negotiators had been hit in Doha, quoting senior Hamas official. An AFP journalist said the explosions had rocked a Hamas compound.
Doha immediately condemned the ‘cowardly’ attack, described as a ‘flagrant violation to all international law’.
An Israeli official said the United States had been notified before the strike, according to Reuters.
Read our live blog below for coverage of the attack:
Israel carried out what it called a precise strike on Hamas’ senior leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, with the Palestinian group claiming the IDF targeted negotiators.
Several blasts were heard in Doha, the Qatari capital, this afternoon as the IDF claimed responsibility for the unprecedented strikes.
The IDF said that it and the Israel Security Agency, Shin Bet, had ‘conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership’ of Hamas.
‘Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate har
m to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence,’ it said, vowing to ‘continue to operate … to defeat the Hamas terrorist organisation’.
Read the full story by James Clark, here:
Israel reveals why it launched attack in Doha
The Israeli Defence Force claimed the Hamas chiefs it targeted were responsible for the organisation’s terrorist operations and October 7 massacre.
Read the IDF’s full statement, below:
US embassy staff in Doha told to shelter-in-place
American officials in Qatar have been told to seek cover following the Israeli attack against Hamas.
In the first official US comment on the raid, the American embassy in Doha confirmed it has seen ‘reports of missile strikes occurring’ in the Qatari capital.
‘The US Embassy has instituted a shelter-in-place order for their facilities,’ the embassy said in a social media post.
It also urged American citizens in Qatar to shelter in place.
Video shows plumes of smoke after explosion
Dramatic video has revealed the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike against Hamas in Qatar.
Leaders for the Gazan terror group were in Doha as part of a peace deligation trying to negotiate a ceasefire.
Footage from the scene appears to show black plumes of smokes raising from the building.
Qatar blasts ‘cowardly’ Israel attack in Doha
Qatar’s foreign ministry has lashed out at an Israeli strike against Hamas in Qatar, branding it ‘cowardly’ and a ‘flagrant violation’ of international law.
In strong words, spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Qatar ‘condemns in the strongest terms’ the attack, which he claimed 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,’ he said in a statement.
‘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.’
Share or comment on this article:
Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatari capital: Live updates
