The Israeli prime minister alleges that Hamas leadership is impeding progress in ceasefire discussions.
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, eliminating Hamas leaders in Qatar would pave the way for resolving the Gaza conflict and securing the release of Israeli hostages. This statement follows an Israeli strike in Doha targeting high-ranking members of the militant group.
Hamas has denied that its leaders were harmed in the Israeli strike, characterizing it as an assassination attempt targeting negotiators involved in a potential resolution to the Gaza conflict.
Netanyahu asserted that Hamas leaders in Doha have “blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war.”
Netanyahu stated on X that “Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”
Qatar, which has hosted multiple rounds of Israel-Hamas negotiations, facilitating two temporary ceasefires in the Gaza war, has accused Israel of “state terrorism” following the attack on its territory.
US President Donald Trump has also criticized the strike, distancing himself from it, stating that he views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the US, and felt very badly about the location of the attack and adding that it was solely Netanyahu’s decision.
According to Politico, the Trump administration’s frustration with the Israeli prime minister has grown since the attack on Qatar. The outlet cited a White House official as saying, “Every time they’re making progress, it seems like he bombs someone.”
Russia has condemned the Israeli attack as a blatant violation of international law and an effort to undermine the settlement process, emphasizing Qatar’s crucial mediating role in indirect talks between Hamas and Israel and asserting that the strike can only be interpreted as an attempt to sabotage peace efforts.
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