Hamas’s leadership has survived Israeli air strikes in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday. A source close to the Palestinian movement told Middle East Eye that all senior leaders targeted in the attack survived, including Khalil al-Hayya, Khaled Meshal, Zaher Jabarin, and others.
They were meeting to discuss the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, presented to Hamas in recent days. The attack killed Khalil al-Hayya’s son, Hammam al-Hayya, and his office director, Jihad Lubbad, according to sources. Several others were wounded.
According to media reports, around 12 air strikes struck residential buildings in Doha around 4 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT). The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the strikes, saying it had targeted Hamas’s senior leadership.
Qatar strongly condemned what it described as a “cowardly Israeli attack”, confirming the strikes had hit residential buildings housing several members of Hamas’s political bureau.
“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents’
– Qatar foreign ministry
“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.
“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets [Qatar’s] security and sovereignty.”
The ministry added that investigations are under way at the highest level, and further details will be announced once available.
The attack was strongly condemned by the UN and several regional states, including Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and others.
Trump ‘approval’
In the last 24 hours, Israel has bombed at least five countries and territories in the region: Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and now Qatar. Off the coast of Tunisia, a suspected drone strike hit the lead ship in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Tuesday morning. Israel did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
In Syria, Israeli air strikes targeted several sites, including in and around Homs, and near the coastal city of Latakia. In the latest Israeli violation of a ceasefire in Lebanon, an Israeli air strike killed five people and wounded at least five others on Monday in the Bekaa and Hermel districts.
In Gaza over the past 24 hours, at least 83 people, including 14 aid seekers, were killed and 223 were wounded by Israeli attacks, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
While Israel has attacked a number of Arab and Muslim countries in the region over recent weeks and months, Tuesday’s strike is unprecedented. To date, Israel has not been confirmed to have attacked a Gulf Cooperation Council country (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman).
In 2010, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior weapons procurement operative in Hamas’ armed wing was assassinated in a hotel room in Dubai. The killing has widely been attributed to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, though Israel did not confirm or deny involvement at the time.
Gulf countries are closely allied with the United States – Israel’s closest partner on the international scene. Qatar hosts one of Washington’s most important bases in the region: al-Udeid air base. The base hosts over 8,000 American personnel, and is the regional headquarters of the US Central Command.
Israeli media reported that the air strikes in Doha were pre-coordinated with the US administration. Channel 12 stated that the attack was approved by US President Donald Trump.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “action” against Hamas leaders was a “wholly independent Israeli operation”. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” the office added.
Trump “blessed” the attack on Hamas officials, US and regional officials told MEE on Tuesday.
Some US officials who would normally be in contact with the US operations centre in Doha reported radio silence to MEE, implying that communications went dark to facilitate the operation.
It’s unclear what specific projectiles Israel used to attack Doha, but the US and Qatar both coordinate air defence – as they did when Iran targeted the United States’ Al-Udeid base in June. A separate US official told MEE that given the recent Iranian strikes and tensions in the region, security in Qatar – including advanced air defence warnings – would be activated.
The US ambassador’s residence is located in Doha’s Katara District, which was targeted by Israel.
Israel began threatening to attack Hamas officials abroad earlier this summer, with Israeli news site Maariv reporting in June that Israel had a Hamas “hit list”.
But regional and US officials widely believed that Israel would refrain from strikes on Doha.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
