Netanyahu's Strike on Qatar Signed Death Warrants of Hostages

According to neutral observers, Israel deliberately carried out attack in Qatar to scupper any peace talks and continue its brutal war in Gaza

- JOHN DOBSON

They were meeting in their luxurious residential premises in northern Doha when the Israeli bombs fell, killing five of them. Senior Hamas leaders were discussing the latest US proposals for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal, which President Trump had called his "last warning," when Israeli forces carried out Operation Atzeret HaDin, or "Day of Judgement." According to Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, the strike targeted Khalil al-Hayya, the main Hamas negotiator based in Qatar, whom he claimed had repeatedly thwarted attempts at brokering peace. Speaking in a briefing shortly after the event, Herzog said: "We targeted those who refused to accept the deal, including primarily al-Hayya, whose hands carried the blood of thousands of Israelis."

Neutral observers, however, expressed a different view, arguing that Israel deliberately carried out the outrageous attack in Qatar—America's ally and a key mediator in the Middle East—to scupper any peace talks and continue its brutal war against the Palestinians in Gaza, aiming for what it calls a "total victory" over Hamas. Qatar itself was among many regional powers strongly criticizing Israel's airstrike, condemning the violation of its sovereignty and reserving the right to respond. "We will act firmly against the reckless breach that threatens our security," insisted Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani. "I was meeting one of the hostage's families the morning of the attack. They are counting on this mediation; they have no other hope for that," he added.

Other nations in the Gulf expressed outrage, slamming Israel and vowing to support Qatar. The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Abraham Accords aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel, called the strikes a "reckless attack" and "flagrant violation" of international law, while Iran and Saudi Arabia characterized the bombing as a "criminal act."