Israeli jets struck targets in Doha, Qatar Monday in an effort to take out Hamas leadership who run the organization from there, not Gaza, where an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiative continues and where hostages, alive and dead, taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 remain held.
According to media reports, the attack specifically targeted Khalil al-Hayya, the exiled Gaza chief and lead negotiator in ceasefire talks, and Zaher Jabarin, the group’s financial officer and another key administrator.
Hamas said in a statement that all of its leaders survived the attack but that five lower-ranked members were killed. Qatar said a member of its Internal Security Force died and others were wounded in the attack.
The dead include five Hamas members and one Qatari Internal Security Forces officer, according to The (London) Times.
“At the beginning of the war, we set a very clear goal for eradicating Hamas as a governmental and military entity. The guys in Qatar, these terrible terrorists, they were the government of Hamas. So this is part of the goal to eradicate Hamas as a governmental entity,” Gen. Amir Avivi said on Washington Watch Tuesday.
Avivi is founder of Israel’s Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), a group of more than 35,000 reserve officers and operatives from all branches of the Israeli security forces dedicated to promoting Israel’s national security needs.
“This should expedite, when you look at command and control, if they've been controlling the operations there in Gaza, this should expedite the finality of what's been happening in Gaza,” Avivi told show host Tony Perkins.
Hamas’ history in Qatar
In 2011, the United States requested that Qatar host Hamas’s political leadership to facilitate indirect communication, since Qatar was seen as more accessible and neutral—unlike Iran or Syria.
Though hosting Hamas aligns Qatar more closely with Turkey and Iran-backed powers, it allows Doha to act as a trusted intermediary, with senior Israeli and U.S. officials engaging through Qatari channels.
Since the strikes, condemnations of Israel have come from leaders in: Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Spain to name a few.
In the U.S., reaction was mixed, but President Donald Trump posted a carefully worded response on Truth Social, beginning by saying the decision to attack was not his.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Trump wrote.
Still, Trump recognized “eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
Trump secured $1.2 trillion in investment in the U.S. from Qatar during a visit to Doha in mid-May.
A series of commercial agreements included a $96 billion deal by Qatar Airways to purchase up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft.
In his post, Trump made assurances to Qatar “that such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” adding, “I have directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar.”
End of Israel-Hamas war in sight?
Israel seems intent on plowing ahead in spite of international backlash, and Avivi says the end is near, noting only two remaining Hamas strongholds: Gaza City and some areas in the central refugee camps.
“The city of Gaza is really the governmental center of Hamas. This is the main brigade of Hamas that is left. Going into Gaza City and destroying this stronghold will bring Israel very close to a decisive win in Gaza, and the surrender of Hamas will enable us also to get all our 48 remaining hostages back home,” Avivi said.
He believes that day is near.
“I think that in the coming months, there will be a decisive win in the Gaza Strip, which will enable us to destroy Hamas and bring back our hostages,” Avivi said.
