Israel attacks Hamas delegation in Qatar as it negotiates a possible ceasefire in Gaza

BarcelonaIsrael launched an attack on Doha on Tuesday, targeting the negotiating delegation of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which was meeting in the Qatari capital to discuss the US-proposed ceasefire in Gaza. At least two members of the delegation were killed, a member of Hamas's political bureau confirmed to Al Jazeera. They were Hamam Khalil al-Hayya, son of one of Hamas's top leaders, Khalil al-Hayya, who was leading the negotiations, and Gihad Labad, director of the office of the Palestinian movement's chief negotiator.

"Attack on the Hamas negotiating delegation during the meeting in Doha. The meeting was attacked while discussing President Donald Trump's proposal for a ceasefire," a senior Hamas source told Al Jazeera. Shortly after, the Israeli military confirmed it had carried out a "precise strike against the senior leadership" of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, without giving further details about the site of the attack. Israel says it informed the United States it would launch the attack—according to Israeli media reports—but US sources cited by Al Jazeera deny this.

Several witnesses report that several explosions were heard in Doha on Tuesday, according to Reuters and Efe. Smoke was also seen rising over the Katara district of the Qatari capital, according to an eyewitness. "For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have spearheaded the terrorist organization's operations and are directly responsible for the brutal massacre of October 7 (2023), in addition to orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel," the Israeli military statement said, adding that it had previously targeted civilians, including the use of precision munitions and additional intelligence information.

The strike has been seen as an attempt to sabotage ceasefire negotiations. The Qatari government called the Israeli attack "cowardly" and warned that it was a "flagrant violation of international law." In a message to X, Qatari Prime Minister's advisor and foreign spokesman Majed Al Ansari said the bombing posed a "serious threat to the security" of Qatar's residents and warned that the Qatari state "will not tolerate such reckless attitude" by Israel or violations. Several Arab countries have spoken out in very similar terms, which have has been quick to condemn the Israeli aggression. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, called the bombing of Doha "flagrant and cowardly." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia described the Israeli aggression against Qatar's sovereignty as "brutal."

The irreverence of the Israeli forces has reached the Vatican. Pope Leo, usually discreet on the international scene, vehemently expressed his concern: "There is truly grave news right now: Israel's attack against some Hamas leaders in Qatar," the pontiff said from his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. He denounced: "The situation is very serious." Along the same lines, the leader of the United Nations, António Guterres, considered the attacks a "flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity." "All parties must work to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, not to destroy it," he denounced.

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken full responsibility for the attack in a message posted on X: "Israel started it, Israel carried it out, and Israel assumes full responsibility." His government's ultra-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir (National Security) and Bezalel Smotrich (Finance) —whose Spain has banned entry this Tuesday— welcomed the "historic" and "correct" decision to attack the Hamas leadership in Doha and warned that "terrorists" will have no immunity "anywhere in the world." While the bombing violates the United Nations Charter's prohibition of aggression against independent states, in a joint statement, the three leaders asserted that the operation was "fully justified given that Hamas leaders initiated and organized the October 7 massacre."

The operation in Doha comes the same day that Israel ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate the city center ahead of a new military offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing ahead with his plan to take control of the entire city, the capital of the Gaza Strip, despite efforts in Qatar to reach an agreement with Hamas on a ceasefire. These efforts have just been thwarted by the bombing of the negotiating delegation in Qatar.

More evacuation orders

"To the residents of Gaza: Take this opportunity and listen carefully. We have warned you. Get out!" Netanyahu himself said. In fact, according to the updated UN map, the evacuation order issued Tuesday by the Israeli army affects the entire northern part of the Strip, including all of Gaza City, but also Jabalia and the rest of the Strip up to its northern border, and the territories south of Gaza City to the center of the Strip. In total, as of September 9, 37% of the enclave is under evacuation orders. However, the southern area is not a safe region for internally displaced persons either; most of it falls within the demarcated combat areas. The Israeli army has ordered residents of Gaza City to move to the southern area of Al Mawasi in Khan Yunis, which it has designated as a "humanitarian zone."

The prime minister asserted that Israel has no choice but to complete the job and defeat Hamas, given the Palestinian militant group's refusal to hand over its weapons. Hamas said it would not disarm until an independent Palestinian state was established.

The new evacuation order has caused panic and confusion among residents of Gaza City, where many have decided to stay despite everything because there is no other safe place. Others have begun to head south. "Despite last week's bombing, I have resisted leaving, but now I will go to be with my daughter," Um Mohamed, a 55-year-old mother of six, told Reuters.

"One million people are forced to go to an uninhabitable area, called 'humanitarian,' in a massive forced displacement," Oxfam Intermón denounced in a statement issued on Tuesday, calling the evacuation orders "impossible and illegal." "The displacement orders communicated in leaflets dropped from the sky or published on social media point to the gravity of what is about to happen," the NGO's statement added.

Residents of Gaza City have already been displaced several times since the war began in October 2023, moving between the north and south of the coastal enclave, in a worsening humanitarian crisis that has led to famine. International experts believe that Israel's plan, which includes the demilitarization of the entire Strip as Israel takes control, could worsen the humanitarian situation for the Strip's 2.2 million people, who face a critical risk of famine.

Netanyahu said Israeli forces are organizing and assembling in Gaza City for a ground "maneuver," but that there had been no further tank advances to deepen the ground offensive as of Tuesday. Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz warned Monday that the military would intensify its campaign into a "powerful hurricane." If Hamas does not release its last hostages and surrenders.

Hopes had been pinned on mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire that would avert Israel's plan to occupy all of Gaza City. Qatar has been pressing Hamas leaders to "respond positively" to the latest ceasefire deal proposed by the United States during talks on Monday in Doha, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters. Israel says it has already accepted the proposal, which would see Hamas return all hostages on the first day of the ceasefire.