Qatar is grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented Israeli air strike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas leaders on Tuesday, killing at least five people, including a Qatari security officer. Authorities confirmed the deaths of Humam al-Hayya, son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, along with three aides, while two individuals remain missing as forensic teams identify human remains.
Hamas claimed the assassination attempt against its negotiating team failed, though the fate of Khalil al-Hayya remains unclear. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani condemned the strike as “state terror,” warning it may have destroyed hopes for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who justified the operation as targeting “terrorist masterminds,” of being the one who should face justice at the International Criminal Court.
The attack drew sharp criticism from Qatar’s Arab allies. The UAE’s president flew to Doha to express solidarity, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denounced Israel’s “brutal aggression.” Qatar is now reassessing its role as host of Hamas’s political bureau and considering a regional summit to coordinate a response.
