DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel hit the headquarters of Qatar’s Hamas political leaders on Tuesday. Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Strikes on the territory of US allies marked an astonishing escalation; End the war And release the hostages.
The attack angered Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf state that hosts thousands of American troops who have served as key mediators between Israel and Hamas throughout the 23-month war. It condemned what it called “a surprising violation of all international law and norms.” The Gulf Coast, Saudi Arabia and other important US allies in the United Arab Emirates have pledged their support to Qatar.
This is a locator map of the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates. (AP photo)
The US said Israel warned it before the strike. However, American officials tried to keep the United States away from attack. The White House said President Donald Trump considers the strike a “unfortunate incident” that will not advance peace in the region. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he “has made his thoughts and concerns very clear.”
She also told reporters that Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov had passed warnings to Katalis. However, Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a post on X that “we’ve been heard about the explosion from the Israeli strike.”
Hamas said in a statement that its top leader survived the strike, but five low-level members have been killed, including the sons of Kalil Al Hayya, Gaza and the leader of its top negotiators, three bodyguards and the head of the Alheyya office. Hamas, who once confirmed the assassination of the leader several months later, offered no immediate evidence that Al Hayyah or other seniors had survived.
Members of Qatar’s internal security forces were also killed, while others were injured, Qatar’s interior ministry said.
Hamas has survived the assassination of numerous top leaders and shows unity in Gaza despite being hit hard by the Israeli campaign triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Strikes could be derailed A ceasefire conversation Even more uncertain, as Israel prepares Major attacks aimed at taking over Gaza city. That escalation comes from people who have encountered fierce international condemnation and opposition within Israel and are afraid to doom the remaining hostages.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying, “All parties must work to achieve a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”
Israel has long threatened Hamas in Qatar
Surveillance footage aired by Al Jazeera showed it occurred during the diplomatic quarter in Doha in a series of buildings housed Hamas’ political wings. Egyptian officials said the strike came when a meeting by Hamas officials on consultations was scheduled for the site. He spoke officially on condition of anonymity as he was not permitted to speak to reporters.
Israel has long threatened to attack Hamas leaders wherever they are. Although he has often welcomed Qatar’s role as a mediator, alongside Egypt, he accused Gulf countries of not putting enough pressure on the group.
This contrasts with previous Israeli operations. Advanced Extreme OverseasNetanyahu immediately publicly insisted on a strike, saying, “Israel has started it, Israel has implemented it, and Israel is fully responsible.”
He said the decision was made after Monday. Shooting Attack in Jerusalem It launched an attack on the Israeli forces in Gaza that killed six and four soldiers.
The Israeli military said it used “precise ammunition and additional intelligence news” on the strike without further explanation. It was not immediately clear how the attack was carried out.
Hamas said he attacked Netanyahu and his government “desily want to reach an agreement, they are trying to stop all opportunities.” It also said it put the United States on the responsibility of the strike.
Qatar denounced what it called a “coolytic Israeli attack.”
Another important Hamas mediator, Egypt, also condemned the attack and said it targeted Palestinian leaders it met “to discuss how to reach a ceasefire agreement.” He said the strike was a “direct attack” on Qatar’s sovereignty.
In Israel, a major group representing hostage families expressed “deep concern and great fear” after the strike. “Their prospects for return now face more uncertainty than ever before. Their time is running out,” the Hostages and Missing Family Forum said in a statement.
Enav Zangauker, who is believed to be one of the living hostages of her son, Mathan, said she was “trembling with fear.”
“It may be at this moment when the Prime Minister actually assassinated my matan and sealed his fate,” she said. “Why does he insist on blowing up every opportunity for a deal?”
Suspicious ceasefire negotiations
Earlier this week, Trump said he was giving Hamas a “final warning” Possibility of a ceasefirewhen the US advanced a new proposal that Arab officials would include the immediate release of all hostages.
A Hamas official called it a “humiliating surrender document,” but the extremist group said it would discuss the proposal and respond within days.
The proposal presented by Witkov calls for the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza after hostages are released and a ceasefire has been established. It discussed the discussion of the door, which was closed on condition of anonymity, according to Egyptians and Hamas officials familiar with the discussion.
Hamas says it’s just going to release The remaining 48 hostagesof which around 20 are thought to be alive in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu rejected these terms and said the war would continue until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed, and Israel maintains free security controls against Gaza.
The mediators previously focused on mediating temporary ceasefires and the release of some hostages, but both continued discussions on a more permanent ceasefire. Witkov left those talks in July, after that Hamas accepted the proposal The mediator said it was roughly the same as the previous one approved by Israel.
International rage
The war in Gaza has already left Israel Internationally increasingly isolatedeven many of its Western allies are asking for it to end the war and do more to deal with the humanitarian catastrophe of Gaza. Some of them have experienced hunger.
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan expressed “full solidarity with our dear Qatar” shortly after the attack.
United Arab Emirates I recently warned Israel The move to annex the occupied West Bank would threaten the Abraham Agreement, a landmark deal mediated by Trump during his first term in which the two countries normalized relations.
Trump wants to expand these deals to include regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, but those outlooks are bleak due to the basis of the war.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described the strike in a call with Qatar’s ruler “a criminal act and a serious violation of international law.”
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Federman reported from Jerusalem. Cairo’s Associated Press writer Sammy Magdy, Washington State Armor Madani, Darlene Superyu and Constantine Tropin contributed.
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