BURSTThe Israeli military and security services conducted a “precise” strike against the senior leadership of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday.
“The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday.
“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.”
Several explosions were heard in Doha, according to local media reports, part of an attack that was immediately condemned by Qatar.
The attack targeted residential headquarters housing a “number of members of Hamas' political bureau” in Doha, according to a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, Dr Majed Al Ansari.
Al Ansari accused Israel of violating international laws and norms, adding the attack presented a threat to “security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
The IDF said that prior to the strike, measures were “taken” to “mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.”
“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre,” the IDF said in the statement.
Tuesday's attack against top Hamas officials was a “wholly” independent operation, initiated and conducted by the Israeli military, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which added that the Jewish state “takes full responsibility."
Hamas’ exiled leadership has resided in Qatar for years. Doha has been a mediator between Hamas, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, and Israel over the course of the Israel-Hamas war that kicked off on Oct. 7. 2023.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met with Hamas’ top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya in Doha on Monday.
The U.S. embassy in Qatar said it has “seen” reports of missile strikes taking place in Doha and has instituted a “shelter-in-place order for their facilities.”
“U.S. citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates,” the embassy said Tuesday morning on social platform X.
Updated: 10:19 a.m. EDT