Israel Has Now Bombed Qatar, Saying It Was Trying To Assassinate Senior Hamas Leaders
The attack is the first time Israel has attacked Qatar, which has been a key mediator in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has now bombed Qatar, saying it was trying to assassinate senior Hamas leaders.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack in a statement shortly after explosions were seen in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
The Israeli military claimed it was targeting Hamas members, who it did not name, that had been leading the group’s activities for years and that it took steps to “minimize the harm to uninvolved people”.
The attack is the first time Israel has attacked Qatar, which has been a key mediator in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and came just hours after Israel’s foreign minister said it had accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by the US.
A Hamas official told BBC that its negotiating team was targeted during a meeting discussing the ceasefire proposal put forward by the US.
All Hamas members attending the meeting survived the assassination attempt, a Hamas source told Al Jazeera.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the “cowardly” attack, saying that it targeted residential buildings that were housing several members of Hamas’ political bureau.
“This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar,” it said in a statement.
It said that it will not tolerate “this reckless Israeli behavior and its continued tampering with regional security”, adding that investigations are under way.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on social media that Israel takes full responsibility for the attack.
“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” he wrote.
Israel has now bombed at least five Arab countries over the past month, including Palestine’s Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
It is also suspected to be behind a drone attack on a Global Sumud Flotilla ship bound for Gaza in Tunisia on Monday, Sept. 8,
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
