September 11, 2025 | 08:52 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Turkiye and Egypt have warned Hamas leaders to tighten security around their meetings, weeks before the Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, The Wall Street Journal reported as cited by The Times of Israel and Turkish Minute on Wednesday.
Israel has been preparing for months to launch a complex strike against Hamas leaders outside Gaza. This operation is also related to efforts to refine tactics for air strikes amid Israel's ongoing invasion in Yemen and Iran.
Israeli fighter jets targeted a residence used by Hamas officials in northern Doha on Tuesday, marking Israel's first acknowledged attack in Qatar. Israeli media reported that the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 ammunitions at one target.
According to the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the operation on Tuesday evening after security chiefs provided an opportunity to target senior Hamas leaders.
The newspaper said at least 10 Israeli fighter jets fired long-range ammunition from outside Qatar's airspace, hitting the building where Hamas leaders were gathered.
WSJ quoted Israeli and Arab officials saying that the meeting in Doha was held to discuss the US's new ceasefire proposal and the release of new hostages, delivered by special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin were among those present, according to the report. Hamas later stated that their senior leaders survived the attack, while five lower-ranking members were killed.
The newspaper reported that despite senior Hamas leaders visiting the movement's headquarters in Doha earlier this week to discuss the new US ceasefire plan for Gaza, Israeli officials risked worsening relations with the Trump administration by attempting to attack a US ally's territory.
The Wall Street Journal wrote: "This is an escalation in tension due to Israel's tactics against Hamas by targeting its leaders in the territory of an independent state mediating peace negotiations in Gaza and hosting one of America's main airbases in the region."
The newspaper reported that Israel informed US military officials just minutes before launching the attack, without disclosing the specific targets.
WSJ said the White House was notified after the missiles were launched, and President Donald Trump later expressed his "displeasure" at the attack and its location.
According to the report, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani condemned the attack via a phone call with Trump. Meanwhile, Arab governments across the region condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.
Qatar has been hosting Hamas' political bureau since 2012 and has played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the October 7 attack.
Casualties
Hamas stated that members of their negotiation delegation in Doha were targeted but survived the attack. However, Hamas said six others, including a Qatar security official, were killed.
According to Hamas, the casualties were:
Humam Al-Hayya (Abu Yahya) - son of chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya; Jihad Labad (Abu Bilal) - al-Hayya's office director; Abdullah Abdul Wahid (Abu Khalil); Moamen Hassouna (Abu Omar); Ahmed Al-Mamluk (Abu Malik); and Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed Al-Humaidi - Qatar internal security forces
"We confirm the enemy's failure to kill our brothers in the negotiation delegation," Hamas stated.
Hamas added that the attack "reinforces without doubt that Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any peace agreement."
A senior Israeli official told Israeli media that Khalil al-Hayya was among the targets, as well as Zaher Jabarin, a West Bank leader in exile.
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