Hamas Condemns Israeli Strike on Doha, Accuses Netanyahu of Sabotaging Peace Efforts
In a strongly worded statement, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has denounced a recent Israeli airstrike in Qatar’s capital, Doha. The movement characterized the attack, which targeted a Hamas delegation, as a “desperate crime, a blatant act of aggression, and a clear violation of all international laws.”
A Strike on Sovereignty and Mediation
The statement further emphasized that the attack represents a violation of the sovereignty of Qatar. The nation, alongside Egypt, has played a pivotal and responsible role in mediating talks aimed at ceasing hostilities and reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. Hamas stated that this act once again reveals the criminal nature of the occupiers and their desire to destroy any opportunity for reaching a settlement.
The Fallen Delegation
Hamas confirmed that the Israeli operation had failed in its objective of assassinating the negotiating team’s leadership, though a number of their “martyred brothers” had attained “the high status of honor and glory.” The statement provided the names of those killed, who included:
- Martyr Jihad Lubbad – Office Manager for Khalil Al-Hayya
- Martyr Hamam Al-Hayya – Son of Khalil Al-Hayya
- Martyr Abdullah Abdul Wahed – Security Guard
- Martyr Momen Hassouna – Security Guard
- Martyr Ahmed Al-Mamlouk – Security Guard
Hamas also extended its condolences for the martyrdom of Bader Saad Muhammad Al-Humidi, a member of Qatar’s internal security forces.
Accusations of Sabotage
The timing of the strike was a central point of Hamas’s condemnation. The movement stressed that targeting the negotiating team at the very moment a recent proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump was under consideration “clearly and without any doubt proves that Netanyahu and his government do not desire to reach any agreement and are deliberately seeking to destroy all opportunities and thwart international efforts.”
A Message to the United States
In a direct address to the U.S. government, Hamas stated that it holds it complicit in this crime due to its “continuous support for the aggressions and crimes of the occupier against our people.”