Reports of Israeli attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar

On Tuesday, Israel carried out an attack on the Hamas leadership in Qatar, thereby extending its military operations in the Middle East to the Gulf state for the first time, where the Palestinian Islamist organization has long had its political base.

An Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that Israel had attacked Hamas officials in Qatar. Qatar's Al Jazeera television reported, citing a Hamas source, that the targets were negotiators from the movement involved in the Gaza ceasefire talks.

Several explosions were heard in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday, according to Reuters eyewitnesses.
Black smoke rose from the Legtifya gas station. Right next to it is a small residential area that has been guarded around the clock by Qatar's emir's guard since the start of the Gaza war.

Israeli media quoted a senior government official as saying that the attack targeted leading Hamas politicians, including Khalil al-Hayya, exiled leader of Gaza and chief negotiator.

Qatar, which mediates between Hamas and Israel, condemned the Israeli attack on Hamas representatives as “cowardly” and spoke of a flagrant violation of international law.

(reuters, red)