UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE
By Betul Yilmaz and Rania Abu Shamala
ISTANBUL (AA) – Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday, in a new blow to efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Explosions were heard in Doha, with plumes of smoke seen rising into the sky.
The Israeli army said it conducted a “precise strike” targeting the senior Hamas leadership, without specifying the location.
A senior Israeli official told the Walla outlet that the strike targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha.
A senior Hamas leader told the Doha-based Al Jazeera television that the strike hit as group negotiators were discussing US President Donald Trump’s recent proposal for Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap.
Another senior Hamas leader confirmed to Al Jazeera that the Hamas leadership delegation survived the Doha attack.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli strike, calling it a “blatant violation of international law.”
“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,” it said in a statement.
The ministry confirmed that security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities addressed the incident and “took necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas.”
Qatar affirmed that it will not tolerate “this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty.”
Qatar, along with Egypt and the US, have been mediating indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a potential prisoner swap and ceasefire deal.