Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned “in the strongest terms the cowardly Israeli attack” on a residential building housing Hamas leaders in the capital Doha, calling the assault by Israel Defense Force a “blatant violation of all international laws and norms”.
“The State of Qatar affirms that it will not tolerate this reckless behavior and its continued tampering with regional security, as well as any action targeting its security and sovereignty,” ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement on Tuesday against Israel’s attack.
“Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they become available.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed in a statement that the Israeli military carried out the attack in Doha on Tuesday against Hamas leaders.
“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” Netanyahu said in a social media post.
“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
The attack came as negotiators from Hamas were meeting to consider the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal from the United States, a Hamas source told Al Jazeera.
Explosions were reported in Doha in the first such attack by Israel in Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and home to the region’s largest US military base, Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts US troops.
Israel’s military released a statement on Tuesday saying it and the Shin Bet intelligence service “carried out a targeted attack on the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization”.
