Israel says it attacked Qatar to target senior Hamas leaders

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s military said it launched an airstrike in Doha on Tuesday aimed at senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital. Television footage from Doha showed a plume of smoke rising over the area of the blast, and there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. It was Israel’s first strike in Doha, marking an escalation in the war against Hamas in a city that has hosted mediation efforts to end the conflict. In a statement, the Israeli military said the Hamas leaders targeted were directly responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and have since been “orchestrating and managing” the war against Israel. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered officials to prepare for a possible strike on Hamas leaders after two Palestinian gunmen killed six Israelis at a Jerusalem bus stop on Monday. Hamas on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the shooting. They said they authorized the Doha strike at midday Tuesday “in light of an operational opportunity.” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a cowardly Israeli attack on residential buildings housing several members of Hamas’s Political Bureau in Doha, describing it as a blatant violation of international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents. The ministry added that Qatar “will not tolerate this reckless and irresponsible Israeli behavior,” which it said continuously undermines regional security. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned what he called a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking at a news conference about a report on global military spending, he said Qatar has played a very positive role in efforts to achieve a ceasefire and the release of all hostages, and he urged all parties to work toward a permanent ceasefire, not destroy it. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also issued condemnations of the strike. The attack in Doha came 2 1/2 months after Iran struck Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, which is used by the U.S. military’s Central Command, in retaliation for the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.