Negotiations, one might presume, have been concluded.
Nearly two years after Hamas perpetrated the worst single-day massacre of Jews since World War II, Israel has taken the war to its most senior leadership. As the Doha Billionaire Boys Club met to strategize around the latest offer from Donald Trump, the IDF concluded the meeting permanently:
Israel targeted senior Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, a senior Israeli official confirmed to the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked leaders at the official headquarters in the Qatari capital, the military said.
According to an official statement, the IAF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.
Videos of the strike in Doha are now hitting social-media platforms:
#عاجل | رويترز: تصاعد أعمدة الدخان عقب انفجارات في الدوحة pic.twitter.com/8UF9RpL00u
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) September 9, 2025
There is no word yet on whether all targets got killed or injured. The IDF put out a statement shortly afterward, claiming to have used precise munitions to prevent collateral deaths and injuries:
The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 9, 2025
For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and…
For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.
Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.
The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre.
Thus far, there has been no word from Qatari officials about this strike on their territory. One imagines that they will have some sort of response, but given the changes in regional power over the last couple of months, they may want to take their time and consider that response carefully.
I'll have updates as developments warrant. Stay tuned.
Update: This comes just a couple of days after Trump offered a final proposal and warned that time had run out for the release of the hostages. "This is my last warning," Trump wrote on Truth Social, "there will not be another one!" Trump is making it very clear that any red lines he draws in military terms will get immediate action if not respected.
Update: Did the Qataris know? This message from the emirate to Hamas sounds prophetic a day later:
Reuters: Qatar’s Prime Minister urges Hamas in Doha to accept the latest U.S.-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 8, 2025
He most probably hinted that the U.S. will green light an operation against them… pic.twitter.com/HO4tF5HGCf
Maybe they did know and at least agreed to tolerate it, if not green-lit it. However, one has to wonder whether this is yet another instance of Trump working with the Israelis to use an offer as a pretext for targeting senior leadership gathering to strategize a response. And maybe the Qataris helped out with that too, tiring of providing a safe haven to the freeloaders. The Billionaire Boys Club should have relocated to Turkey after the October 7 massacre.
Update: The Jerusalem Post reports that Trump green-lit the operation:
Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of Hamas, was one of the targets of the operations, an Israeli official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post. His death has not been confirmed.
Israeli officials told The Post that the US knew about the attack beforehand and gave it the green light. ...
No mention has been made yet of Khaled Mashaal, who was formerly the leader of Hamas years ago and remains a symbol of the group.
Anyone not in that meeting is likely already traveling incognito to Ankara or Tehran. The latter, however, isn't a safe haven these days, as former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh realized in his last millisecond of life last year.
Update: Needless to say, this all but ends any hope of a negotiated truce. Hamas no longer has anyone to represent them at negotiations, and it has been apparent for some time that their communication with leaders in Gaza was limited anyway. At the same time that Israel carried out this strike, they also issued an all-out evacuation order for Gaza City and a warning that the main offensive would begin shortly. Without their leadership in Doha, Hamas factions will have to decide whether to die in their own tunnels underneath collapsed buildings or start surrendering the hostages in hopes of getting out alive.
Update: Arab media are reporting that at least four main leaders of Hamas were killed in the strike, including its current top leader and one well-known former leader:
ARAB REPORT 🔴
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 9, 2025
The strike in Qatar killed Khalil al-Hayya, Zahar Jabarin, Khaled Mashal, and Nizar Awadallah.
Israel has not confirmed yet. pic.twitter.com/yX6UfukuTV
Don't take that as gospel yet, but it seems pretty clear that the Israelis knew where they were and used enough munitions to get the job done. And now that the gloves are off in Doha, expect the Mossad to quietly finish the job wherever any other Hamas leaders may be hold up ... including Turkey.
Update: The Qatari government released an angry statement, but ...
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the 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,…
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) September 9, 2025
and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.
The Ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas.
While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available.
This may be on the level, but it reads more like a diplomatic CYA. This is the bare minimum one would expect under the circumstances, and "investigations" are not exactly a response to a military strike.
Update: Qatar has announced that it will no longer participate in negotiations between Israel and Hamas. That was the point. Israel's done negotiating with Hamas.
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