Explosions Heard in Doha as Attempted Assassination of Senior Hamas Officials Foiled
Explosions were heard on Tuesday in Doha, the capital of Qatar, as an attempted assassination of senior Hamas officials was thwarted. According to official sources and journalists on the scene, smoke was seen rising into the air after the strikes.
Allegations of Israeli Involvement
The Zionist entity has been pointed out as responsible for the attack. Israeli media, citing a senior official, indicated that the primary target was Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent figure in the Palestinian movement Hamas and a member of the political bureau. Al-Hayya, a PhD in Arabic language, is considered one of the strategic leaders of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and has escaped several assassination attempts in the past.
Key Role in Hamas
Close to Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of the Hamas government in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya has played a central role in negotiations with regional actors such as Egypt and Qatar, focusing on ceasefires, prisoner releases, and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The Zionist entity regularly describes him as a strategic official of Hamas. According to Reuters, citing an Axios journalist referring to Israeli sources, Tuesday's attack was a "targeted attempt to eliminate" the political leadership of Hamas.
International Reaction
The Financial Times also described the operation as a "precise strike". The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly condemned the attack, describing it as a "criminal and dangerous act for the security and sovereignty of Qatar". The statement assured that investigations were ongoing at the highest level and that Doha would not tolerate any action that endangered the security of residents and national territory.
Context of the Attempted Assassination
This attempted assassination comes as Khalil al-Hayya and other Hamas leaders were gathered in Doha to discuss a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, presented by US President Donald Trump.
