The Israeli military on Tuesday claimed it had targeted Hamas leadership in an airstrike, shortly after loud explosions were heard in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

According to Al Jazeera, Hamas leaders had gathered to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal when the explosions occurred. Thick clouds of smoke were seen rising over parts of Katara following the blasts.

Israel asserted that it had “eliminated the entire Hamas leadership” in the strike, naming six senior figures – Khaled Meshaal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Mohammad Ismail Darwish, Mousa Abu Marzouk, and Husam Badran – among the dead.

However, a senior Hamas official denied the claim, insisting the leadership had survived the attack.

‘Israel takes full responsibility’ - Netanyahu

Netanyahu said that he had ordered security forces to prepare to target Hamas leaders after the deadly attacks in Jerusalem on Monday.

He said that at noon, in light of an “operational opportunity” and after discussions with heads of the security establishment, he and his defence minister opted to carry out the attack and “it was executed with precision and success.”

“The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister believed that the operation was fully justified given the fact that this Hamas leadership was the one that initiated and organized the October 7th massacre, and has continued to launch murderous attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens ever since, including taking responsibility for the killing of our civilians in yesterday’s attack in Jerusalem,” Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement.

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people in what police described as “a terrorist attack,” one of the deadliest in the city in the past few years.

Qatar strongly condemns attack

Qatar strongly condemned the strike, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it a “cowardly Israeli attack.”

Spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the assault was a blatant violation of international law and global norms.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar. The ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defence, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas,” he added.

“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available,” the statement concluded.

UAE strongly condemns Israeli attack on Doha

The UAE strongly condemns Israeli attack on Doha, and called it ‘blatant and cowardly’, the UAE Foreign Ministry said.

Saudi Arabia condemns ‘brutal’ Israeli aggression

Saudi Arabia “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli aggression and flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the sisterly State of Qatar,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Qatar is “affirming its full solidarity with and support for the sisterly State of Qatar, and deploying all its capabilities to support it in all measures it takes, and warning of the dire consequences resulting from the Israeli occupation’s persistence in its criminal violations and its blatant violation of the principles of international law and all international norms,” the statement said.

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