Video and information leaked to international media reveal the tension surrounding ceasefire talks in Gaza. Hamas accused the Israeli air force of striking its negotiating team in Doha, Qatar, while they were discussing former US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release.
A Hamas official in Gaza told the French Press Agency:
“In a new Zionist crime, the Hamas negotiating delegation was targeted during a meeting in Doha to discuss President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
According to two organization sources who spoke to Reuters, the delegation members survived the attack.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered negotiations to begin aimed at releasing all hostages, following Hamas’s acceptance of a new ceasefire proposal from mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the US).
Hamas officials in the crosshairs
Arab media reports indicate that the targeted building housed senior Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, Gaza chief, Zaher Jabarin, responsible for the West Bank, Muhammad Darwish, head of the Shura Council, and Khaled Mashal, head of the organization abroad.
Qatar’s response
A senior Doha official sharply criticized Israel, emphasizing:
“Hamas received the new American proposal from us, which we received from Witkoff last week in Paris.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani, had met just one day earlier with the Hamas negotiators. After the meeting, the delegation traveled again to Doha from Turkey to continue discussions when the raid occurred.
In his statement, the Qatari official noted:
“However, as has happened in the past, the Israelis undermined hopes for peace, further prolonging the war and complicating efforts for the return of hostages.”
