Qatar Blast, Israel Strikes Hamas Leaders
- On an unspecified date in September 2024, Israel launched a targeted attack against senior Hamas leaders in Qatar.
- Israel asserts the operation was "wholly independent," initiated, conducted, and fully owned by Israel.
- While Israel maintains full responsibility for the operation, the reported prior notification to the United States raises questions about the level of coordination between the two countries.
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Israel Strikes Hamas Leaders in Qatar, US Informed Prior to Attack
Table of Contents
Updated September 9, 2024, 14:54:28 UTC
What Happened?
On an unspecified date in September 2024, Israel launched a targeted attack against senior Hamas leaders in Qatar. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated the strike aimed at those ”directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre” according to Reuters. The attack represents an expansion of Israel’s military operations beyond the Middle east and into the Gulf Arab state, where Hamas maintains a political base.
Israel asserts the operation was “wholly independent,” initiated, conducted, and fully owned by Israel. However, reports indicate the United States was notified before the strike took place. Reuters reports Israel media citing a senior Israeli official, stating the attack specifically targeted top Hamas leaders including Khalil al-Hayya, the exiled Gaza chief and a key negotiator.
key Figures and Locations
- Binyamin Netanyahu: Prime Minister of Israel.
- Khalil al-Hayya: Exiled Gaza chief of Hamas and top negotiator.
- Qatar: Host country to Hamas’s political base and the location of the strike.
- Israel Defense Forces (IDF): The military force responsible for the attack.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 7, 2023 | hamas launches a large-scale attack on Israel. |
| September 2024 (unspecified date) | Israel launches a strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. |
| September 9, 2024 | News of the strike is reported by Reuters and other media outlets. |
US Notification and Israeli Duty
While Israel maintains full responsibility for the operation, the reported prior notification to the United States raises questions about the level of coordination between the two countries. This contrasts with Israel’s claim of a “wholly independent” operation. The US has not yet publicly confirmed or denied being informed beforehand.
Background: Hamas and the October 7th Attack
Hamas,a Palestinian Islamist group,has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.The October 7, 2023, attack on Israel involved