In Qatar, digging through the rubble of Israel's attack

DOHA, Qatar - Qatari security forces deployed Wednesday around the site of an Israeli attack the previous day on Hamas' political leaders who had gathered in the capital of the energy-rich Middle East country to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

- BY JON GAMBRELL

THE STRIKE on Tuesday damaged a compound in Doha and targeted the political leadership of Hamas.

Tuesday's strike on a building in Doha killed at least six people in a neighborhood that is home to foreign embassies and schools.

The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally drew widespread condemnation from countries in the Mideast and beyond. It also marked a dramatic escalation in the region and risked upending talks aimed at ending the war and freeing hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike and threatened further action against Qatar a day after President Trump had sought to ease tensions between the U.S.allies, including by assuring the Gulf nation that there would be no more such strikes on its soil.

"I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice," Netanyahu said. "Because if you don't, we will."

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the attack, said about 10 planes participated in the mission and dropped about 10 missiles.

Netanyahu said Tuesday that he had made the decision to carry out the strike the day before. The official did not know how long the mission had been planned, but said the timing was connected to "operational opportunity" with Israel knowing that many Hamas officials would be gathered in an area relatively easy to hit without threatening Qatari civilians.