Israeli Air Force Attacks Hamas in Qatar

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet military intelligence agency announced that on September 9, the Israeli Air Force conducted a strike on the top leadership of the Hamas organization while they were in Doha, the capital of Qatar. This is Israel's first operation on Qatari territory, and it was named "Operation Fiery Peak," according to "Current Time."

An official statement said the strike was carried out against those who "have for years led the activities of the terrorist organization and bear direct responsibility for organizing the massacre of October 7 and waging war against the State of Israel."

"Before the attack, measures were taken to minimize damage to uninvolved persons, including the use of high-precision weapons and the provision of additional intelligence information," the IDF press service stated.

The Qatari television channel Al Jazeera quoted a statement by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al Ansari, who said that his country "condemns in the strongest possible terms" the strike on Hamas representatives. He said the strike hit residential buildings where several members of the organization's "political bureau," which is recognized as a terrorist group in the U.S., were living.

"This criminal attack is a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security of the residents of Qatar," the Qatari Foreign Ministry statement said.

According to Palestinian and Qatari sources, the airstrikes were carried out on a meeting place for Hamas leaders in Doha. Sabereen News reports that 12 explosions were heard. According to preliminary reports from the Al Arabiya television channel, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya was killed in the strike, but this has not yet been officially confirmed. Members of the Hamas political bureau Khalid Mashaal, Muhammad Darwish, Ghazi Hamad, and Izzat al-Rishq were also present at the same meeting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement saying that the decision to eliminate Hamas leaders was made on Monday, September 8, following a terrorist attack in Jerusalem and the death of four Israeli soldiers in Gaza on the same day.

"Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of eliminating Hamas leaders. The Minister of Defense fully supported this proposal," the statement said.

On September 8, a terrorist attack occurred in Jerusalem: several people opened fire on bus passengers, killing six and injuring 12 more. Hamas claimed responsibility for this attack, and a corresponding statement was published on the Al-Qassam Brigades' Telegram channel.

Hamas also continues to hold dozens of hostages who were kidnapped in Israel as a result of the large-scale terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. At that time, following the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants and other Islamist paramilitary groups from the Gaza Strip, 1,200 Israelis were killed (including 364 participants of the Nova music festival) and 253 were taken hostage. In response to these actions, Israel is conducting a military operation in the Gaza Strip and simultaneously holding hostage negotiations with Hamas in Qatar. However, these negotiations have not led to any results in the last few months.

The Times of Israel, citing a source, reports that U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly authorized Israel to strike the political leadership of the Hamas movement in Doha. The day before, on September 8, Trump issued what he called a "final warning" to Hamas regarding the hostages.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet military intelligence agency announced that on September 9, the Israeli Air Force conducted a strike on the top leadership of the Hamas organization while they were in Doha, the capital of Qatar. This is Israel's first operation on Qatari territory, and it was named "Operation Fiery Peak," according to "Current Time."

An official statement said the strike was carried out against those who "have for years led the activities of the terrorist organization and bear direct responsibility for organizing the massacre of October 7 and waging war against the State of Israel."

"Before the attack, measures were taken to minimize damage to uninvolved persons, including the use of high-precision weapons and the provision of additional intelligence information," the IDF press service stated.

The Qatari television channel Al Jazeera quoted a statement by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al Ansari, who said that his country "condemns in the strongest possible terms" the strike on Hamas representatives. He said the strike hit residential buildings where several members of the organization's "political bureau," which is recognized as a terrorist group in the U.S., were living.

"This criminal attack is a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security of the residents of Qatar," the Qatari Foreign Ministry statement said.

According to Palestinian and Qatari sources, the airstrikes were carried out on a meeting place for Hamas leaders in Doha. Sabereen News reports that 12 explosions were heard. According to preliminary reports from the Al Arabiya television channel, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya was killed in the strike, but this has not yet been officially confirmed. Members of the Hamas political bureau Khalid Mashaal, Muhammad Darwish, Ghazi Hamad, and Izzat al-Rishq were also present at the same meeting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement saying that the decision to eliminate Hamas leaders was made on Monday, September 8, following a terrorist attack in Jerusalem and the death of four Israeli soldiers in Gaza on the same day.

"Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of eliminating Hamas leaders. The Minister of Defense fully supported this proposal," the statement said.

On September 8, a terrorist attack occurred in Jerusalem: several people opened fire on bus passengers, killing six and injuring 12 more. Hamas claimed responsibility for this attack, and a corresponding statement was published on the Al-Qassam Brigades' Telegram channel.

Hamas also continues to hold dozens of hostages who were kidnapped in Israel as a result of the large-scale terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. At that time, following the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants and other Islamist paramilitary groups from the Gaza Strip, 1,200 Israelis were killed (including 364 participants of the Nova music festival) and 253 were taken hostage. In response to these actions, Israel is conducting a military operation in the Gaza Strip and simultaneously holding hostage negotiations with Hamas in Qatar. However, these negotiations have not led to any results in the last few months.

The Times of Israel, citing a source, reports that U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly authorized Israel to strike the political leadership of the Hamas movement in Doha. The day before, on September 8, Trump issued what he called a "final warning" to Hamas regarding the hostages.