Israel has a Hamas 'hit-list.' Could it assassinate officials in Qatar?
The threats - and Netanyahu's visit - are sparking speculation that Israel could look to target senior Hamas officials in Gaza, Algeria, Lebanon, and potentially Qatar as the US presses for a new truce in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened last month to assassinate senior Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Doha, Qatar.
He also said Israel would target the Gaza-based Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander of Hamas's military wing.
The Israeli news site Maariv reported in June that Israel had a Hamas "hit list", which included Hayya, Osama Hamdan, a former Hamas spokesman in Lebanon, and Sami Abu Zahri, the group's representative in Algeria.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Hamas's military and political wings are structured as distinct entities. The group's political leadership has primarily been based in Doha as per a 2011 request from former US President Barack Obama.
Hamas also had an office in Cairo, Egypt, although it is unclear whether that office is still functioning following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel. Its political officials are also known to spend time in Turkey, but it is also unclear whether they have an official office there.
On Thursday, the Times newspaper reported that Qatari officials had instructed Hamas officials, including Hayya, to hand over their personal weapons.
Other senior officials ordered to turn over their weapons were Muhammad Ismail Darwish, the head of Hamas's Shura Council, and Hamas political bureau member Zaher Jabareen.
Middle East Eye could not independently verify the reports.
Qatar: A key US ally
If Israel were to follow through with Katz's plan to kill Hayya in Qatar, it could present a major escalation in Israel's campaign against Hamas members.
Until recently, Israel mainly targeted Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon.
Following the start of the war on Gaza, one of Israel's first strikes abroad was the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior leader of Hamas and a founding commander of the al-Qassam Brigades' military wing in Beirut.
However, attacking Hamas members in Qatar, a key US ally in the region, which is also home to al-Udeid, the regional headquarters for US Central Command, could also present major challenges.
Al-Udeid was targeted by Iran late last month in response to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israel's sneak attack on the Islamic Republic.
US and Iranian officials indirectly coordinated before the strike, with Qatar acting as an intermediary, MEE revealed. The US moved aircraft and heavy equipment from Qatar's al-Udeid base to stations in Saudi Arabia.
Over the course of the war, Qatar, along with Egypt, have emerged as key mediators for the US. Despite this, the Trump administration broke with decades of precedent earlier this year and negotiated directly with Hamas, proscribed as a terror group by Washington, to release a dual US-Israeli national.
Hamas was based in Damascus, Syria, until 2012, when it fell out with the Syrian government over the country's civil war. Qatar agreed to host the exiled leadership at the request of the US to maintain an indirect line of communication with the group, Qatari officials say.
The long arm of Israeli assassinations
Netanyahu has a history of ordering strikes when he is in the United States, appearing to relish the powerful symbolism of Israel's long military arm.
Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, just after Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly.
Netanyahu's office was quick to release a picture of him huddled with aides ordering the strike from a drab office in New York City.
Former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran a week after Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the US Congress in July 2024.
And since the war erupted, Israel has killed dozens of senior Hamas officials inside the Gaza Strip. Hamas's military commanders are high-value targets. Israel said it killed Muhammad Sinwar, Haddad's predecessor, in May.
Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad's brother, was one of the most high-value Israeli targets following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
Israel assassinated dozens of Yayha Sinwar's subordinates and searched for more than one year to locate Yahya. The US provided intelligence in a bid to track Yahya. In the end, he was killed in in October 2024 in a firefight in the southern Gaza City of Rafah when Israeli soldiers accidentally stumbled upon him and colleagues.
'Major hurdles' still remain
If Israel does move to assassinate Hamas officials, it will come amid a new push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Trump said this week that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas is weighing whether to accept the proposal. However, Israel's Channel 14 reported on Wednesday that the proposal includes a "secret side letter" from the US giving Israel permission to restart the war.
It's unclear whether Israel would need written approval, as a ceasefire was reached in January 2025 but imploded in March when Israel unilaterally resumed attacking Gaza.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Times of Israel, two Arab diplomats said that "major hurdles" remain unresolved regarding the ceasefire, particularly around the recently established US-Israeli aid distribution system operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Hamas has demanded a return to the previous United Nations-run aid delivery mechanism.
The controversial GHF, which began operations in late May after a three-month complete blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, has been sharply criticised.
More than 580 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,200 wounded by Israeli troops while attempting to access food and aid supplies.
Hamas's concerns have been echoed by international organisations. On Tuesday, over 170 NGOs jointly called for an end to what they described as the 'deadly' US- and Israeli-backed GHF system, urging a return to United Nations-led aid coordination.
Over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Roger Waters from Pink Floyd backs Palestine Action, denounces UK terror label
English rock legend Roger Waters has publicly declared his support for the recently banned direct-action group Palestine Action, calling the UK government's decision to proscribe it as a 'terrorist organisation' a betrayal of justice and democracy. Speaking in a video recorded on 5 July, Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, accused the UK Parliament of being 'corrupted by agents of a genocidal foreign power,' referencing Israel. 'This is Independence Day, July the fifth, 2025. I declare my independence from the government of the UK,' said Waters, criticising the decision to criminalise support for Palestine Action. 'They are nonviolent. They are absolutely not terrorist in any way.' Palestine Action was officially designated a terrorist organisation by the British government on Saturday, a move that has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and activists. The group has targeted arms manufacturers linked to Israel, most notably Elbit Systems, which produces weapons used in Israel's military operations in Gaza. Waters defended the group's tactics as peaceful and justified, saying: 'They are a nonviolent protest organisation protesting the presence in the UK of Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturing organisation… I support Palestine Action and I always will because that is the right thing to do.' Referencing journalist George Monbiot's call for public defiance, Waters echoed the rallying cry: 'This is the 'I am Spartacus' moment… Good on everybody who is standing up everywhere and saying, 'I am Spartacus.' We will not be rolled over by this appalling Labour government in the United Kingdom.' The musician concluded with a stark message: 'Palestine Action is not a terrorist organisation. They are lying… that's all I have to say." Waters has long been outspoken on Palestinian rights and has previously faced backlash for his criticism of Israeli policies. His latest comments have further amplified calls for scrutiny over the UK's crackdown on pro-Palestine activism.
Arabian Post
2 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Discussions On Draft Joint Declaration At BRICS Summit Showing Sharp Divide
By Nitya Chakraborty On the eve of the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on July 6 and 7, the ongoing discussions among the senior officials of the member countries for the preparation of the draft joint declaration from the Summit, are showing big divergence of views on the two major issues- Trump's tariff war and the Israeli role in the latest war in West Asia. Right now, the tariff issue is the most important one of the majority of the BRICS members including India. The host country Brazil is interested in using strong words in the draft against President Trump's unilateral decision on reciprocal tariffs. The 90 day pause announced by the US President expires on July 9. Already, the US administration has started issuing letters to the trade partner countries who have till now not negotiated the deals. The BRICS declaration to be issued on July 7 will take into account the latest position after the issuing of letters and make its position clear in the draft decrying the unilateralism of the USA. Presently BRICS has eleven full members the first five China, Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa and the new six Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia and Indonesia. Brazilian President Inacio de Silva Lula, better known as Lula is taking the leading role in the shaping of the declaration along with South Africa and other members. Indian officials are keen that a special mention is made of the threat of terror to India from Pakistan in the declaration in the context of the BRICS nations fight against terrorism. It is to be seen to what extent Prime Minister Narendra Modi can reshape the draft declaration and make it tuned to India's stand on terrorism and Pakistan. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not attending, China will be represented by the Prime Minister Li Quiang. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be physically attending but there is a possibility that he will address the BRICS Summit through a video call. Iranian President is not attending but Iran is represented by a very senior minister. Iran has already mentioned that it wants the draft declaration to incorporate strong language against both Israel and USA. But Egyptian and Saudi officials have suggested restraint. Indications suggest that the draft has to be finalized at the Summit level as lot of divergences are expected to remain in the draft before its consideration by the Summit leaders. As regards India, the officials taking part in the discussions for draft declaration, are finding the situation a bit delicate. Indian officials are at the final stages of discussions on trade deal. President Trump has already said that the deal will be ready shortly. It can be ready even before July 9. So India's relationship with USA and the present geo political position do not permit the Indian side to take a strong position against the US on tariff issue. India and many other members do not want to name the USA as the villain in the final declaration. The possibility is the US or Trump will not be named but the opposition to the unilateral actions will be conveyed strongly. In fact, the reality is that it is just not India or Egypt, even China and Russia also are not favouring a strong anti-US declaration. China has already concluded its trade deal with the US while President Putin is depending on President Trump to bail him out of Ukraine crisis. Iran's forceful participation in the discussion has made the task of choosing right line on Middle East crisis tougher. Sources say that Iran has taken very one sided position pushing for a very critical stance against the USA which the other countries are finding difficult to agree. Brazilian officials are trying their best to work on a common ground on Middle East crisis. If the differences still remain, it is up to the Summit leaders to fine tune the draft and make it acceptable to all. BRICS comprises a mix of emerging and developing economies, each with unique strengths and challenges. China has the largest economy within the bloc, while India, Brazil, and Russia also hold significant economic weight. South Africa, while smaller in terms of GDP, plays a crucial role in the African continent. BRICS economies collectively account for nearly half of world's GDP, with its rate of economic growth surpassing the global average. Two BRICS members China and India are the drivers of the growth of global economy. BRICS has emerged as a counterweight to the dominance of traditional economic powers, contributing to a more multipolar world order. Economists hold the view that BRICS economic profile reflects a dynamic and influential force in the global economy, driven by the collective strength and diverse capabilities of the member nations. China is the second largest economy in the world after the top performer USA. India is expected to be the third largest economy after USA and China by GDP is projected to be $ 2.75 trillion by 2028 making it the eighth largest economy in the world. Russia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia also have high prospects of growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got an opportunity to dominate the proceedings at the Rio de Janeiro Summit as he leads the largest democracy in the world. Following the absence of President Xi Jinping, he will also be the most prominent head of state attending this Summit. It is to be seen how the Indian PM makes use of his clout to influence the deliberations and help in making the joint declaration favourable to Indian stand on terror and Pakistan. (IPA Service)
Middle East Eye
5 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli occupation hinders state control: Lebanon president
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Beirut, following Lammy's visit to Syria, the presidency said on Saturday. During the talks, Aoun stressed that the current regional tensions require the continued presence of Unifil in southern Lebanon to help implement UN Resolution 1701. 'The continued Israeli occupation of the five hills, its repeated aggressions, and its failure to release prisoners make it difficult for the state to fully impose its authority, protect its citizens and enforce its decisions, including the exclusive possession of weapons,' the presidency said. Aoun also noted that the army will soon deploy 10,000 troops to southern Lebanon, with only legitimate security forces and UN peacekeepers allowed to operate in the area. Lammy reportedly reaffirmed the UK's support for the Lebanese military and said London is closely monitoring the developments in the country
