Hamas claims leaders survived Israeli assault in Doha, however confirms six deaths

[ad_1] David Gritten and

Paul Adams Diplomatic correspondent, in Jerusalem

CCTV captures second of Israeli assault on Hamas leaders in Doha

US President Donald Trump has mentioned he is "not thrilled" about Israeli air strike in Qatar, including to the worldwide stress after the unpredecented enlargement of Israel's battle towards Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the strike was "absolutely justified" as a result of it focused senior Hamas leaders who organised the 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, which triggered the Gaza battle.

The Palestinian armed group has mentioned 5 of its members have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Qatar's capital, however claimed that an try and assassinate its negotiating crew "failed".

Qatar condemned the Israeli assault, calling it "cowardly" and a "flagrant violation of worldwide legislation".

Qatar is a key US ally within the area that's the location of a serious American air base.

Requested about Israel's strikes towards Qatar, Trump mentioned: "Effectively, I am not thrilled... I am simply I am not thrilled about the entire state of affairs. It is not a great state of affairs.

"However I'll say this, we would like the hostages again, however we're not thrilled about the way in which that went down at present," he advised the media.

Hamas mentioned the negotiating crew was assembly to debate the most recent US proposal for a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip at a residential compound in Doha when it was badly broken by a sequence of explosions.

The Gulf state's inside ministry mentioned one member of its Inside Safety Drive was killed and others have been injured, with out mentioning any Hamas casualties.

It has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012, and has served together with the US and Egypt as a mediator in oblique negotiations between the group and Israel.

Witnesses in Doha mentioned they heard as many as eight separate explosions on Tuesday afternoon, with plumes of smoke rising above the town's northern Katara district.

The strike hit "residential buildings housing a number of members of the Political Bureau of Hamas", in line with Qatari authorities.

Inside minutes, Israel mentioned it was behind the blasts.

The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) and Shin Wager inside safety service mentioned in an announcement that they carried out "a exact strike focusing on the senior management" of Hamas.

Later, Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz mentioned Israeli safety forces had been ordered on Monday to organize for a attainable strike "after the murderous assaults in Jerusalem and Gaza" – a reference to the killing of six Israelis by two Palestinian gunmen at a bus cease in Jerusalem and the killing of 4 Israeli troopers in an assault on a military camp in Gaza Metropolis.

"The prime minister and the defence minister believed that the motion was absolutely justified given the truth that it was this Hamas management that initiated and organised the October 7 bloodbath, and - since then - has not ceased from launching murderous operations towards the State of Israel and its residents," they added.

Israeli media reported that the operation concerned 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions towards a single goal inside a number of seconds.

An Israeli official was cited as saying the Hamas members focused included Khalil al-Hayya, the chief negotiator and exiled Gaza chief, and Zaher Jabarin, the exiled West Financial institution chief.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a170/live/3bdb93c0-8d88-11f0-b391-6936825093bd.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A damaged building in Doha, Qatar, following an Israeli strike targeting senior Hamas leaders (9 September 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Qatar mentioned Israel struck residential buildings housing a number of members of the Hamas political bureau

A Hamas assertion denounced the Israeli strike as a "a heinous crime, a blatant aggression, and a flagrant violation of all worldwide norms and legal guidelines".

"We affirm the enemy's failure to assassinate our brothers within the negotiating delegation," it mentioned, with out offering any proof.

The group named 5 members who it mentioned have been killed, together with Khalil al-Hayya's son, Humam, and Jihad Labad, the director of Hayya's workplace.

"Focusing on the negotiating delegation, as they mentioned US President Donald Trump's newest proposal, confirms past doubt that Netanyahu and his authorities don't wish to attain any settlement and are intentionally in search of to thwart all alternatives and thwart worldwide efforts," it mentioned.

Hamas additionally mentioned it held the US administration "collectively accountable" for the assault due to its assist for the Israeli army.

The White Home mentioned it was notified by the US army that Israel was attacking Hamas.

"Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and shut ally of america that's working very laborious and bravely taking dangers with us to dealer peace doesn't advance Israel or America's targets," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt advised reporters. "Nevertheless, eliminating Hamas, who've profited off the distress of these residing in Gaza, is a worthy objective."

She added: "President Trump instantly directed particular envoy Steve Witkoff to tell the Qataris of the upcoming assault, which he did."

Afterwards, Trump spoke to Israel's prime minister, who advised him that "he desires to make peace and rapidly", in line with Leavitt.

The president additionally spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and "assured them that such a factor won't occur once more on their soil", she added.

The Israeli prime minister's workplace earlier harassed that it was a "an entirely impartial Israeli operation". "Israel initiated it, Israel carried out it, and Israel takes full accountability," it mentioned.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e141/live/624edcc0-8dc3-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Map showing the location of the Israeli strike on a target in the north of Doha" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Qatar's authorities reacted with fury to Israel's actions, saying: "This felony assault constitutes a blatant violation of all worldwide legal guidelines and norms, and poses a severe menace to the safety and security of Qataris and residents in Qatar."

Comparable statements of shock got here from throughout the Arab world, with Saudi Arabia denouncing what it described because the "brutal Israeli aggression".

UN Secretary Common António Guterres additionally condemned the strike, saying it was a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar".

He mentioned Qatar had been "enjoying a really constructive function to realize a ceasefire and launch of all hostages", including: "All events should work in direction of attaining a everlasting ceasefire, not destroying it."

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned the strike was "unacceptable no matter motive", whereas UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned of the chance of "additional escalation throughout the area" and known as for a ceasefire in Gaza and the discharge of hostages.

Pope Leo XIV advised journalists that "your entire state of affairs could be very severe".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fa2c/live/f062b7c0-8daf-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters File photo showing Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon (21 November 2023)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Israeli media reported that the Hamas members focused included Khalil al-Hayya, the chief negotiator and exiled Gaza chief (file picture)

For the households of the 48 hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, the information triggered a recent wave of determined nervousness.

"I'm shaking with worry," Einav Zangauker, whose son, Matan, is amongst these in captivity, wrote on X.

"It might be that in these very moments the prime minister has truly assassinated my Matan. Why does he insist on blowing up any likelihood of a deal?"

Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid mentioned he shared the households' considerations.

"Hamas members deserve loss of life," he posted, "however at this level the Israeli authorities wants to clarify how the IDF's motion won't result in the killing of the hostages, and whether or not the chance to the hostages lives was taken into consideration."

On Monday, Katz had warned Hamas leaders residing overseas that they might be "annihilated" and Gaza "destroyed" if the group didn't launch its hostages and lay down its arms.

His remarks got here a day after Hamas mentioned its negotiating crew was speaking with mediators in regards to the newest US proposal for a ceasefire and hostage launch deal.

Trump mentioned on the time that Israel had accepted his phrases, with out giving any particulars, and gave Hamas what he known as a "final warning" to just accept it too.

A Palestinian official advised the BBC the US plan would see the hostages freed within the first 48 hours of a 60-day truce in change for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations on a everlasting ceasefire.

Talking to an viewers on the US embassy in Jerusalem on Tuesday night time, Netanyahu mentioned the Israel's motion in Qatar might "open the door to an finish of the battle".

He confirmed that Israel had accepted the US plan and urged the folks of Gaza to comply with swimsuit, saying: "Rise up to your rights and to your future. Make peace with us."

Israel has killed many high Hamas leaders over the previous 23 months.

The group's exiled political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed by an explosion at a guesthouse throughout a go to to Iran in July 2024.

Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the 7 October assault and succeeded Haniyeh, was killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza in October 2024.

The Israeli army launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, by which about 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.