by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
DOHA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet announced Tuesday that the Israeli Air Force had struck Hamas’s senior leadership in Qatar under the banner of Operation Summit of Fire, in one of the most daring operations of the war since October 7.
The strike comes amid reports of large explosions in Doha, where Hamas’s exiled political bureau has long been based. According to Arab media, several of Hamas’s top leaders were present in the building hit, including Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, West Bank commander Zaher Jabarin, Hamas Shura Council head Muhammad Darwish, and the group’s former overall leader Khaled Mashaal. Their fate remains unclear.
In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet said those targeted were “directly responsible for orchestrating the October 7 massacre, in which 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered, and for managing Hamas’s war against the State of Israel.” Israeli officials said precision munitions were used to minimize civilian harm.
Netanyahu Cuts Hearing, Takes Responsibility
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interrupted his closed-door legal hearing on corruption charges to deal with what officials described as “an exceptional security matter.” Later, his office issued a statement:
“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Israeli media reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed ahead of time and gave his approval. Two days earlier, Trump warned Hamas on Truth Social: “This is my last warning, there will not be another one.”
Political Leaders Hail the Strike
The strike drew rare unity across Israel’s political spectrum. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid praised security forces for an “extraordinary operation.” At the same time, former defense minister Benny Gantz said Israel “must pursue Hamas terrorists and their leaders everywhere and at all times.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that “Jewish blood is no longer cheap.” At the same time, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said the operation was “another historic decision” and vowed Hamas leaders would be destroyed.
Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot argued that eliminating Hamas leaders was the surest path to bringing home Israeli hostages.
Qatar Condemns ‘Cowardly’ Attack
Qatar strongly condemned what it called a “cowardly Israeli attack” on residential buildings in its capital, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari accusing Israel of violating sovereignty and endangering civilians. “Qatar will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior,” he said.
Diplomatic sources told the Jerusalem Post that the strike coincided with Hamas leaders meeting in Doha to discuss a new ceasefire and hostage-exchange proposal. Qatari officials accused Israel of deliberately undermining negotiations.
A New Phase of the War
The open use of the air force and Shin Bet in Qatar marked a departure from Israel’s usual reliance on the Mossad for extraterritorial operations, reflecting both the scale of the targets and the risks to ongoing mediation.
Israeli officials insist the operation was justified: “The leaders of Hamas are marked for death. Every one of them,” one lawmaker said.
The deaths–or survival–of Hamas’s exiled leaders could reshape both the battlefield and fragile diplomatic efforts, leaving the question of who will lead the terror group’s negotiations with Israel unresolved.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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