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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday condemned Israel's attack on Qatar's capital, calling it evidence of expansionist policies that should prompt international action against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"Israel's expansionist policy extending as far as Qatar should ensure that circles that have been turning a blind eye to Netanyahu finally wake up," Fidan said in a statement following Tuesday's strike on Doha.
Foreign minister emphasized Ankara's solidarity with Qatar, stating: "Israel has violated the sovereignty of yet another country with the attack it carried out in Doha. We want to emphasize once again that we are in full solidarity with Qatar in the face of this vile attack."
Israel's military said Tuesday it conducted a "precise strike" targeting senior Hamas leadership in Qatar's capital, where explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising over the city's Katara District.
The Israeli army and Israel's Shin Bet security agency confirmed the joint operation in a statement but did not specify the exact location, saying only that they targeted "senior leadership of Hamas."
Sources tell Al-Arabiya TV that the Hamas negotiating delegation survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha. The U.S. Embassy in Doha has ordered a shelter-in-place, with U.S. citizens in the city advised to remain indoors.
"Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on X.
Two Hamas sources told Reuters that the group's ceasefire negotiation delegation in Doha survived the Israeli attack. A senior intelligence official speaking to Axios said, "The entire Hamas A-list was in the building" when the Israeli bombs struck.
Al Jazeera TV, citing Hamas sources, reported that the militant group's negotiation delegation was targeted during a meeting in Doha. The Hamas leaders were reportedly at the site discussing a new U.S. proposal for a ceasefire when the strike occurred.
A senior Israeli official told local media the attack targeted top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the group's Gaza chief, and Zaher Jabareen.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari called it "a cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha."
"This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar," al-Ansari stated.
The operation, named "Operation Summit of Fire," drew immediate condemnation from regional powers. Qatar's Ministry of Interior confirmed that competent teams were carrying out their duties and the situation remained secure.
Israel weighed plans to eliminate senior Hamas officials on Turkish soil before carrying out what appears to have been a failed assassination attempt in Qatar earlier this week, according to Egyptian sources cited by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar on Thursday.
The sources said the strike in Doha two days ago was executed as an alternative to an operation that had been planned for Türkiye. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers reportedly believed the U.S. administration would be better positioned to manage the fallout from an attack in Qatar compared to a similar operation in Türkiye, which could have escalated due to Türkiye's NATO membership and imposed significant political and economic costs on Israel.
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials warned American counterparts that any attempt to conduct operations on Egyptian territory similar to the Qatar strike would result in "catastrophic consequences," the sources said. Cairo expressed its intention to host Palestinian faction leaders and provide them protection within its borders.
Despite the assassination attempt, Hamas sources indicated Thursday that the organization's leadership has agreed to resume negotiations for a prisoner exchange deal. Speaking to the pro-Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas officials said talks should restart "in a manner consistent with Palestinian demands, ensuring a complete cessation of war and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip."
The sources added that Hamas would renew contact with mediators in the coming days once the situation stabilizes following the Qatar incident, allowing negotiation efforts to resume.
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