Israel Warns of Future Strikes on Hamas Leaders After Doha Attack

Jerusalem/Doha – Tensions in West Asia surged after Israel signaled it will not relent in its hunt for Hamas leadership, even outside Gaza. An Israeli security official said on Wednesday that if senior Hamas leaders survived the recent strike in Qatar, they will be pursued again.

The statement comes after Israeli warplanes targeted a building in Doha earlier this week, in what sources described as a meeting site for the Hamas political bureau. While the attack killed several individuals – including relatives of Hamas negotiators and a Qatari security officer – key figures are believed to have escaped.

Qatar reacted sharply, calling the strike a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani declared that the attack undermines mediation efforts for a ceasefire and hostage releases, adding that Doha is reviewing Hamas’ presence in the country.

The incident has drawn widespread international criticism, with many governments warning that such actions could destabilize the fragile diplomatic framework in the region. Analysts note that Israel’s willingness to strike targets in Qatar signals a dramatic escalation, challenging traditional red lines in the conflict.

For Israel, however, officials maintain that Hamas leaders are legitimate targets regardless of location, emphasizing that there will be “no safe haven” for those orchestrating attacks against Israeli civilians.

With ceasefire talks already stalled, the fallout from the Doha strike is expected to complicate negotiations further, raising concerns that regional escalation may spread beyond Gaza’s borders.