Israel expands war to Qatar, targets Hamas in Doha
By Samuella Antwi
Israel on Tuesday expanded its military campaign against Hamas, striking targets in Doha, Qatar, even as evacuation orders in Gaza City sparked panic among residents already reeling from months of war.
According to Qatari authorities, one member of the country’s internal security forces was killed and several others injured in the strike.
Smoke was seen rising over Doha following the attack, which Israeli officials said targeted the Hamas leadership long based in the Gulf state.
Israeli media reported that the strike targeted top Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, though it was not immediately clear whether he survived.
Hamas political bureau member Suhail al-Hindi told Al Jazeera TV that the leadership had escaped unharmed but confirmed that Al-Hayya’s son was killed.
A source briefed on the operation said Israel was still assessing whether any senior Hamas leaders had been eliminated.
The White House said Israel had notified Washington of its plans before launching the attack. Qatar, which has played a key mediating role in ceasefire negotiations alongside Egypt, condemned the strike as “cowardly” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” Neighbouring Gulf states also denounced the attack.
The escalation in Qatar came as Palestinians in Gaza City awoke to a fresh wave of fear after Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets ordering residents to leave immediately.
Israel said it was preparing to “obliterate” the area in an operation aimed at wiping out Hamas fighters.
The sudden evacuation order triggered scenes of confusion and panic. Some residents scrambled to pack belongings and flee, while others vowed to stay in the ruins of their homes, uncertain of where to go.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting on Monday that killed six people on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
In response, Israeli authorities announced they would demolish the homes of the attackers’ families in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli leaders have warned of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a “mighty hurricane” if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages.
The 23-month-old conflict has now spread beyond Gaza and the occupied territories, engulfing Lebanon, Syria and most recently, Qatar, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.
