Security forces dig through the rubble of Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders

DOHA (AP):

Qatari security forces and emergency fire personnel deployed Wednesday around the site of an Israeli attack the previous day on Hamas’ political leaders who had gathered in the capital of the energy-rich Middle East country to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Tuesday’s strike on a building in Doha killed at least six people in a neighbourhood that is home to foreign embassies and schools.

The strike on the territory of a US ally drew widespread condemnation from countries in the Mideast and beyond. It also marked a dramatic escalation in the region and risked upending talks aimed at ending the war and freeing hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

AT LEAST 10 BOMBS USED

An Israeli official said at least 10 bombs were used in the raid. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the attack, the official said about 10 planes participated in the mission and dropped about 10 missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he had made the decision on Monday to carry out the strike. The official did not know how long the mission had been planned, but said the timing was connected to “operational opportunity” – with Israel knowing that many Hamas officials would be gathered in an area relatively easy to hit without threatening Qatari civilians.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, called out Netanyahu over the attack.

“Such hostile behaviour reflects only the barbarism of Netanyahu,” the minister said while consoling the family of a Qatari security official killed in Israel’s strike, according to the Foreign Ministry. He added that Netanyahu “was pushing the region toward irreparable instability, undermining international laws and frameworks.”

Sheikh Mohammed also “criticised Netanyahu for previously declaring intentions to reshape the Middle East, questioning whether this was also meant as a threat to reshape the Arabian Gulf,” the statement said.

AT THE SCENE OF THE ATTACK

From a distance beyond the security cordon, the buildings that had housed the Hamas leadership in Doha could be seen still standing. But one room in particular appeared to have been the target of the strike – its walls had collapsed, and grey rubble could be seen inside.

Satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC showed damage to structures to the south of the Hamas compound as well, though the buildings were still standing.

Security forces and emergency personnel surrounded the site and blocked traffic.

A gas station to one side did not appear to have suffered any fire damage. The windows of the building next to the one targeted remained intact.

Israel hasn’t specified what it used to carry out the strike, beyond saying it employed precision-guided weapons meant to minimise collateral damage.

Hamas said in a statement Tuesday that its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya – Hamas’ leader for Gaza and its top negotiator – as well as three bodyguards and the head of al-Hayya’s office. Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived.

HITTING AN AMERICAN ALLY

Qatar maintains a major arsenal of air defence systems, including both American-made Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD batteries. However, it didn’t immediately appear that Qatari air defences engaged during the attack, which occurred just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed said Tuesday that “the Israeli enemy used weapons that were not detected by radar”.

He did not elaborate but the statement suggests Israeli fighter jets could have launched so-called “standoff” missiles at a distance to strike the site without actually entering Qatari airspace.

The United States has said it warned Qatar before the strike. Qatar disputes that, with Sheikh Mohammed saying that “the Americans sent a message 10 minutes after the attacks took place, saying they were informed that there was going to be a missile attack on the state of Qatar.”

Qatar is also home to the US military’s forward headquarters for its Mideast-based Central Command. The headquarters, located at the sprawling Al-Udeid Air Base, also has American-run radars and defence systems and recently hosted US President Donald Trump on his tour of the region in May.

Qatar’s advisory Shura Council condemned what it described as a “criminal, treacherous and cowardly attack” which it said “represents a flagrant and ongoing breach of all international laws and norms”.