Hamas says its leadership survived Israel’s assassination bid in Doha

In an statement, the group said at least six people were killed in the attack that was intended to derail truce talks.

The Hamas leadership has survived Israel’s assassination attempt in the Qatari capital Doha, but at least six people were killed in the attack, according to an official statement from the Palestinian group.

In its first official statement on Tuesday evening, the Palestinian group said Israel’s attack was intended to derail prisoner exchange talks and ceasefire negotiations to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 64,000 people.

“This once again reveals the criminal nature of the occupation and its desire to undermine any chances of reaching an agreement,” Hamas said.

The Palestinian group described the attack as “a heinous crime, a blatant aggression, and a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws”.

The group confirmed that at least six people, including the son and one of the aides of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, were killed in the attack that has drawn global condemnation. The Qatari Ministry of Interior said that a security officer was among those killed.

Earlier, a member of Hamas’s political bureau Suhail al-Hindi said the Palestinian group holds the United States administration responsible for the attack, which the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned “in the strongest terms”.

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has also condemned Israel’s “reckless criminal attack” in the capital Doha in a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The attack is “a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and security…,” Sheikh Tamim said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Hamas leaders, al-Hindi said, were meeting with a positive outlook on the latest US ceasefire proposal to end the war in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia “denounced in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the sisterly State of Qatar”, as other Arab leaders joined in the condemnation of the Israeli attack.

The leaders of the United Kingdom and France also condemned Tuesday’s attack, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying it violated Qatar’s sovereignty, while French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack “unacceptable”.

Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called attack “state terrorism”.

Sheikh Mohammed made it clear that the Israeli strikes “must not be overlooked”, saying that Qatar is mobilising all tools to respond to the attack beyond statements and condemnations, including by forming a legal team to hold Israel accountable.

The Qatari prime minister suggested that countries across the Middle East must come together to rein in Israel. “Today, we have reached a turning point for there to be a response from the entire region against such barbaric conduct,” he said.

Trump notified Qatar before the Israeli attack

Explosions were reported in Doha in the first such attack by Israel in Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and home to the region’s largest US military base, Al Udeid airbase, which hosts US troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed in a statement that the Israeli military carried out the attack in Doha on Tuesday against Hamas leaders. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” he said.

Leavitt said that Trump “immediately directed” US special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar of the attack.

The White House said that Trump has assured Qatari officials that such attacks will not be repeated.

“The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States, and feels very badly about the location of this attack,” said Leavitt.

“The president also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country,” she added. “He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”

But Doha disputed Washington’s account. Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson al-Ansari dismissed the idea that Qatar was warned in advance. He said the only call received from a US official came as explosions were already rocking the capital.