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Israel will kill Hamas leaders if they survive the Qatar attack next time, an Israeli official claims

The Israeli ambassador in the United States stated that if Israel didn't kill Hamas leaders during an air strike against Qatar on Tuesday, it would be successful the next time. This operation raised concerns about it torpedoing efforts to secure ceasefires in Gaza.

"Right away, we might be the subject of some criticism. They will get over it. Yechiel Leiter said late Tuesday on Fox News' Special Report that Israel was changing for the better.

"The region will change for the better when we take away these enemies of peace, and these enemies to Western civilization's ability to commit terrorism." Israel's attack on the Qatari capital Doha Tuesday was an attempt to kill Hamas political leaders. The attack escalated its military action in Middle East, which the U.S. called a unilateral strike that did not advance American or Israeli interests. This operation was particularly sensitive, as Qatar is hosting negotiations to secure a ceasefire for the Gaza War which has raged for almost two years.

Leiter said, "We'll try again next time if we don't succeed this time."

Hamas confirmed that five members of the group were killed, including the exiled Gaza chief Khalil al Hayya and his top negotiator. Hamas political Bureau member Suhail al-Hindi said to Al Jazeera TV that the top leadership of the group survived the attack.

On Wednesday, a senior Israeli official stated that optimism over the outcome of the strike had turned into doubt. The official expressed concern that so many hours had passed without a conclusion, especially in a country as orderly as Qatar.

Qatar, who said that one of its security personnel was killed in the attack said Israel is treacherous and engages in "state terror." Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani claimed that the airstrikes could derail peace talks Qatar is mediating between Hamas & Israel.

Israel had warned Palestinians to leave Gaza City - a city that once housed about a half million people - as it sought to eliminate what was left of Hamas. The group has been decimated since October 2023 by Israel's army. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that he was "very unsatisfied" with every aspect of the Israeli attack.

When asked how the failure to kill Hamas leaders in the attack on Qatar would affect the ceasefire negotiations by the U.S. Mike Huckabee, the Ambassador to Israel, told:

"The truth is that we don't really know." Hamas rejected all offers so far. "They reject all offers that are put forward."

He then reiterated the U.S.-Israeli position that Hamas militants should "go" and have no future running Gaza.

The militant group that has controlled Gaza for almost two decades, but now controls only parts, said on Saturday, once again, that it would free all hostages, if Israel agreed end the war and remove its forces from Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu wants a deal in which all hostages are released immediately and Hamas is forced to surrender. He has ignored the global condemnation for operations such as the one which struck Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. He is extending military operations throughout the Middle East ever since Hamas launched an attack against Israel in 2023.

Business as usual

On Wednesday, Doha's schools and businesses were open as usual. In the Legtafiya district, where the attacks took place, a petrol pump was cordoned-off and schools closed. The International School of Choueifat, located nearby, was closed but offered online classes.

Trump said that he thought it was a good idea to hit Hamas, but regretted the fact that the attack occurred in the Gulf Arab State, a non-NATO major ally of Washington, and the place where the Palestinian Islamist movement has had a political base for many years.

Al-Udeid Air Base is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.

Israel has killed top Hamas leaders in the years since the Palestinian militants attacked Israel, October 2023. They are believed to have killed 1,200 soldiers, civilians, and taken 251 hostages.

Israel's military action in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 people according to local authorities and left the Palestinian enclave in ruins. A humanitarian crisis, including widespread starvation, has shocked the entire world. (Writing and editing by Sharon Singleton; Michael Georgy)

(source: Reuters)