Israel’s UN envoy on Wednesday defended the decision
to target Hamas leaders in Qatar, insisting it was “the right” move despite
rare criticism from US President Donald Trump.
The strikes on Tuesday killed at least six people,
including the son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, his aide, and several
bodyguards, according to Hamas. Qatar said one of its security officers also
died. The Gulf state, which hosts a large US military base and has been central
to Gaza truce talks, condemned the attack as a “pivotal moment” and said it
reserved the right to respond.
Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told Israel’s
103FM radio:
“It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on
Hamas. We are not against Qatar, nor against any Arab country. We are currently
against a terrorist organisation.”
He added that Israel values US support but “does not
always act in the interests of the United States.”
President Trump, however, said he was “not thrilled”
by the strike, stressing that Washington had not approved it.
“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu,
not by me,” Trump said, adding that while eliminating Hamas was “a worthy
goal,” he regretted the attack’s location.
Sources close to Hamas told AFP that six senior
figures, including Hayya and former leader Khaled Meshaal, were inside the
targeted building but survived. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The strike came a day after a Hamas-claimed shooting
in Jerusalem killed six people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
he ordered the operation in response.
The incident has rattled diplomatic efforts, as Qatar,
alongside the US and Egypt, has been a key mediator in attempts to end the
nearly two-year Gaza war and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel — which
killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians — Israel’s offensive in Gaza has left at
least 64,605 Palestinians dead, mostly civilians, according to figures from the
Hamas-run health ministry considered reliable by the UN.
Comments:
Leave a Reply