Israel says dropped 10 bombs on Hamas headquarters in Qatar (Pic credit: AP)
Qatar’s capital Doha was rocked by several explosions on Tuesday as witnesses reported plumes of smoke over the Katara district. Qatari authorities described the attack as a “cowardly assault” on residential buildings housing Hamas leaders, triggering a wave of condemnation and raising tensions in the region. Here are the top developments:
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a post on X that the operation was “wholly independent,” carried out by the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency. “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.”
- Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped over 10 munitions in the strike on Hamas’s leadership in Qatar, according to military officials, reported The Times of Israel. Israeli military said “precise munitions” and “additional intelligence” were used to minimize civilian casualties, while vowing to continue operations against Hamas leadership.
- US Embassy in Doha issued a shelter-in-place order for its staff and urged American citizens to remain indoors following reports of missile strikes.
- Doha strongly denounced the strike as a violation of its sovereignty. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Qatar would “not tolerate reckless Israeli behavior”. “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”, said in a post on X.
- Iran also condemned the attack as a “gross violation of international law” and Qatar’s sovereignty, warning it endangered regional security. “This extremely dangerous and criminal action is a gross violation of all international rules and regulations, a violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV.
- Arabic media outlets reported that five people were killed in a strike in Qatar, reported Times of Israel. Those killed include Himam al-Hayya, son of Hamas Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, and Jihad Labad Abu Bilal, who served as the senior leader’s office director. The others were described as close associates — Abdullah Abu Khalil, Moamen Abu Omar, and Ahmad Abu Malek — believed to be bodyguards or advisers to Hamas officials.
- Turkish Foreign Ministry says Israel not interested in peace. “The targeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation while ceasefire talks continue shows that Israel does not aim to reach peace, but rather continue the war”.
