The Israeli strike, which targeted the top Hamas leaders gathered in Qatar’s Gulf states on Tuesday, marked a major escalation against extremist groups and was able to support negotiations aimed at ending The War in Gaza Returns the Israelite hostages.
It could also cause a diplomatic crisis with US ally Qatar Hosts thousands of American troops It has served as an important mediator between Israel and Hamas for several years, even before the latest war.
Hamas said its top leader survived and admitted the deaths of two low members and three bodyguards. The extremist group only confirmed the killing of its leader a few months later, and did not immediately prove that the seniors were still alive.
The strike came when Hamas leaders, based in Qatar’s capital Doha, were measuring A new ceasefire proposal From the Trump administration. The White House said Israel notified the US before the strike and warned Katalis.
President Donald Trump saw the strike as an “unfortunate incident” that failed to advance peace in the region, White House press chief Carolyn Leavitt told reporters. He spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attack and “has made his thoughts and concerns very clear,” she said.
What should you know about this:
Hamas’ exiled leadership
On October 7, 2023, almost all of the top leaders of Hamas in Gaza, including the two architects, attacked the attack that sparked the war. I was killed. However, some of the senior leadership of the group Includes Khalil Al-HayyaMahmoud Darwish and Khaled Meshaal have lived abroad for a long time, mainly in Qatar and Türkiye.
Israel has threatened to target Hamas leaders wherever they are, but has previously avoided Qatar.
Hamas survived the assassination of several top leaders. Founded in the 1980showever, they have never faced an onslaught on the scale of Israel’s response to the October 7 attack.
The war was killed Over 64,000 PalestiniansGaza’s Ministry of Health says not how many fighters and civilians were, but women and children account for about half of the deaths. The whole town and the neighborhood Bombed by kawara rub90% of the 2 million people have been evacuated. Often multiple timesand part of the territory I’m experiencing hunger.
While Hamas-run government and police have largely disappeared, the group still can attack guerrilla-style attacks on Israeli forces. Four soldiers were killed Monday when the bomb was thrown into the tank.
Hamas-led militants lured 251 people in the attack on October 7th, killing around 1,200 civilians. The 48 hostages are still in Gaza. About 20 of them were believed to be aliveafter most of the rest was released in ceasefires or other deals.
They are Hamas’ final negotiation tips, saying extremists will release them only in return for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and Israel’s withdrawal.
Impact on ceasefire negotiations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. Still, he says Israel will maintain open-ended security controls against Gaza.
Israelis continue to carry out massive protests denounce Netanyahu Extending the war for political reasons. They want a ceasefire to return hostages, and many fear that they could be doomed to surviving prisoners held in tunnels and other secret locations around Gaza.
Earlier this week, Trump said he was giving Hamas a “final warning” but said Israel was in the first stages of it. Another major attack In Gaza city. Hamas said he received a new US ceasefire proposal seeking the immediate release of all remaining hostages in return for negotiations on the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Israel said it had accepted the deal, but Hamas official Bassem Naim described it as a “humiliating surrender document” that provided assurances that Israel would end the war or leave Gaza. Still, Hamas said he would discuss the proposal with other armed groups and respond within a few days.
These discussions were ongoing when the explosion occurred in Doha.
Hamas already had deep distrust between Israel and the United States. Israel has ended the ceasefire In March, Trump helped the broker. Doha Strike delves into even greater uncertainty.
In any case, the final decision on hostages is likely to be made by the still unharmed armed wings within Gaza, who have been abused by Hamas, but who hold them. It is led by veteran commander Ezedin Al Haddad, who went deep underground.
Hamas’ surviving leaders are likely to further limit communication in the wake of a strike, and negotiations could be slower, even if they continue.
Regional meaning
Israel has carried out multiple strikes The best extremistsLike the Iranian generals And nuclear scientistswhich spasmed the area over the past two years as the attacks on October 7 sparked a war.
But the strike in Qatar was our close ally and even gave him a close relationship with President Donald Trump. Free exchange For Air Force 1 – can shock the region and deepen Israel already Unprecedented international isolation.
Major American allies, including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, denounced Tuesday’s strike.
In addition to hosting thousands of US troops at Al-Udeid military bases, Qatar served as a key mediator not only with Hamas but with the Afghan Taliban and other armed groups.
Critics accused Qatar of strengthening Muslim groups throughout the region and expanding its own influence. Katari officials have denied the allegations and said they focus on regional stability and that their mediation efforts are being made with full US knowledge and support.
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