JERUSALEM/DOHA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday, targeting a building used by senior Hamas officials in what Israeli authorities described as an attempt to assassinate leaders of the group.
Suhail al-Hindi, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told Al Jazeera that the attack attempted to kill Khalil al-Hayya, a senior leader in Hamas's political bureau, and other Hamas leaders who were meeting to discuss a ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States. He said al-Hayya survived the attack, but his son and one of his top aides were killed. Contact has also been lost with three other bodyguards, al-Hindi said.
In a statement, the Qatari Interior Ministry said a member of its security forces was killed in the attack.
Israeli agencies were still assessing the outcome and did not officially confirm who was hit.
In a joint statement, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency confirmed responsibility, saying the strike targeted Hamas leaders "directly responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre" and used "precise munitions and intelligence" to limit civilian harm.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it "a wholly independent Israeli operation." "Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," he said in a statement released by his office.
Eyewitnesses reported loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising over the Qatari capital. Qatar's Interior Ministry confirmed an attack on a Hamas residential headquarters, saying specialized teams had secured the site and that "the situation is safe."
An Israeli official, speaking with Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said more than a dozen warplanes took part and at least ten bombs were dropped on the building. Preparations for the strike had been ongoing for months, the official said.
Preparations for the operation were accelerated on Monday, "following the deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza," Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement. They referred to a shooting attack by two Palestinian men from the occupied West Bank at a Jerusalem bus stop that killed six and a clash in Gaza that killed four Israeli troops on Monday. They said the airstrikes were carried out "precisely and optimally."
The strike drew swift condemnation from Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict that hosts Hamas's political bureau. Its Foreign Ministry called the attack a "serious threat" to the security of citizens and residents and a violation of its sovereignty. It also announced the suspension of negotiations following the strike.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike as a "flagrant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty. "We are just learning about the Israeli attacks in Qatar, a country that has been playing a very positive role in achieving a ceasefire and release of all hostages," he told reporters in New York.
Saudi Arabia also criticized what it called continued Israeli violations in the region, citing recent strikes in Syria's Homs and Latakia governorates as breaches of international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Riyadh voiced support for Syria's sovereignty and stability.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denounced the Doha strike as "extremely dangerous, criminal and in violation of the UN Charter," saying it was part of Israel's "continued crimes" against international law.
Other countries and organizations, including Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, and the Arab League, also rushed to condemn the Israeli attacks.
In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of hostages still held in Gaza, said they were following developments in Doha "with deep concern and grave fear."
"The chance of bringing them back is now more uncertain than ever, with one absolute certainty -- their time is running out," the families said. "It is time to end the war."
"I am trembling with fear," Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages, wrote on social media. She said the attack could destroy the chances for a deal and accused Netanyahu of repeatedly "sabotaging the deal." ■
