ALWAGHT- Doha targeted by Israeli airstrikes as Hamas negotiators reaffirm dedication to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
The Israeli military, in coordination with Shin Bet, announced that it carried out an airstrike on Doha, claiming to target senior Hamas leaders. Reports from Israeli media indicated the strikes aimed at Hamas negotiators engaged in US-mediated talks. Hamas confirmed that its delegation survived the assassination attempt, while Reuters correspondents reported explosions and smoke rising over Doha’s Katara district.
Analysts described the strike as a deliberate attempt to undermine negotiations, pointing to US-Israeli coordination in the operation. Palestinian Resistance Affairs expert Hani al-Dali argued that the attack turned peace talks into another extension of the war. Israeli media further claimed that US President Donald Trump had authorized the strike, given Washington’s control over Qatari airspace.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a “cowardly” assault on its sovereignty and warned it would not tolerate threats to its security. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Doha advised American citizens to remain indoors. Despite the strikes, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to a ceasefire framework proposed in August, calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the entry of aid, and a genuine prisoner exchange.
Hamas confirmed receiving new US proposals for a ceasefire, transmitted through mediators. The group reiterated its openness to serious negotiations, demanding guarantees for implementation and an end to Israeli aggression. It emphasized readiness for a comprehensive agreement that includes prisoner exchanges, withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a Palestinian administrative committee. Hamas also criticized Israel for rejecting a prior US-brokered proposal in August while escalating attacks.
