Israel strike in Qatar kills Hamas members leaders survive

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Photo:AP

In a shocking escalation, Israel carried out an airstrike on a residential complex in central Doha, the capital of Qatar. The strike, described by Israel as a “precise attack”, targeted top members of the Palestinian group Hamas. According to official statements, the attack killed five Hamas members and one Qatari officer. However, the main Hamas leaders, who were believed to be the focus of the operation, survived.

This event has rattled regional politics because Qatar has long hosted Hamas’s political office and acted as a key mediator in negotiations involving Gaza, Israel, Egypt, and the United States.

Who Was the Main Target?

Reports suggest the strike was aimed at Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s exiled Gaza leader and chief negotiator.

* Khalil al-Hayya’s rise:

Born in Gaza in 1960, al-Hayya has been with Hamas since it was founded in 1987. He became one of the group’s most important diplomats, especially after the deaths of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and military commander Mohammed Deif. These assassinations left al-Hayya as one of the five figures leading Hamas’s temporary leadership council, created in 2024 to guide the group during the ongoing war.

* His role in diplomacy:

Based in Qatar, al-Hayya has led several delegations in negotiations with Israel, Egypt, and the United States, trying to secure ceasefire deals for Gaza. Unlike leaders stuck inside Gaza, he could travel more freely, making him a crucial link for the group.

* Family tragedy:

Al-Hayya’s family has suffered heavily from Israeli strikes. In 2014, his eldest son Osama, Osama’s wife, and three children were killed in a bombing. In Tuesday’s Doha attack, his other son, Humam al-Hayya, was among the dead.

Speaking after the strike, al-Hayya said: “The blood of the movement’s leadership is like the blood of any Palestinian child.”

Who Else Was Targeted?

Another key Hamas figure believed to be a target was Zaher Jabarin, the group’s financial chief.

* Jabarin’s background:

Arrested by Israel in 1993, he spent nearly 20 years in prison before being released in 2011 in a prisoner exchange deal. After his release, he quickly rose in Hamas ranks, becoming head of the financial bureau and managing a wide investment and funding network. He is also one of the five members of the Hamas leadership council.

Who Was Killed in the Attack?

The strike left six people dead:

1. Humam al-Hayya – Son of Khalil al-Hayya

2. Jihad Labad – Director of al-Hayya’s office

3. Abdullah Abdul Wahid – Bodyguard

4. Moamen Hassouna – Bodyguard

5. Ahmed al-Mamluk – Bodyguard

6. Corporal Bader Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari – Qatari Internal Security officer

Qatar officially confirmed the death of its officer, marking a rare direct loss for the Gulf state in this conflict.

Who Leads Hamas Now?

With so many leaders killed since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Hamas has been forced to rely on a five-man leadership council and a senior military figure in Gaza.

* Khalil al-Hayya – Senior political negotiator, based in Qatar.

* Zaher Jabarin – Financial chief, also part of the council.

* Mohammad Darwish – Current head of the leadership council, who recently met Turkish President Erdogan and spoke of a post-war national unity government for Gaza.

* Khaled Meshaal – A long-time Hamas leader based in Qatar. He famously survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in the 1990s.

* Nizar Awadallah – One of Hamas’s founding leaders, involved in both political and military activities.

In addition, Izz al-Din al-Haddad has emerged as the senior military commander in Gaza, especially after the death of Yahya Sinwar. Israel holds him responsible for planning the October 7 attack and has placed him on its most-wanted list.

Why This Strike Matters

This attack is not only about Hamas but also about Qatar’s role in the region. For years, Qatar has acted as a mediator in peace talks, hosting Hamas leaders while also maintaining diplomatic relations with Western nations.

The strike challenges Qatar’s position as a neutral ground for negotiations. It also raises questions about whether Israel will continue to target Hamas leaders outside Gaza, even in foreign capitals.

The Bigger Picture

* Israel says the strike was aimed at weakening Hamas’s leadership network abroad.

* Hamas says the attack will not stop its leadership and claims the council remains intact.

* Qatar has condemned the attack, pointing to the death of its officer as an attack on its sovereignty.

The situation is likely to make ongoing ceasefire negotiations more complicated. It also risks dragging Qatar, a key Gulf state, deeper into the regional conflict.

Israel strike in Qatar, Doha attack, Hamas leaders