None Of Its Officials Died In Israeli Attacks In Doha, Hamas:wasty Steps

Hamas illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Fars Media Corporation)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas said none of its officials had been killed in the Israeli attack on Doha, calling it a coward move.

Israel launched an attack targeting a number of Hamas leaders in Doha, on Tuesday, including senior and main negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas ensured no official was killed.

"We confirm that enemy efforts to kill members of the negotiating delegation have failed," Hamas statement posted on the Telegram channel, quoted from TASS September 10.

However, Hamas confirmed that the attack killed six people, including the son of a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, Humam, and a Qatari soldier.

The Palestinian militant group blamed Israel and the United States for the attack, which they said supported Israeli military crimes.

Hamas also stated that they would not change their stance in Gaza's ceasefire negotiations after the attack on Doha and blamed Israel for their unpreparedness to make peace.

"The attack on the negotiating team when its members discussed US President Donald Trump's proposal (regarding Gaza) showed (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his government were not willing to sign a peace agreement and sought to cancel all efforts made by other countries on this line," Hamas said.

"This coward move will not change our position: we continue to demand an end to the aggression in Gaza immediately, the withdrawal of troops from there, and the exchange of prisoners, as well as the restoration of the eclave," Hamas said.

As previously reported, Israel launched an attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar, expanding its military action that has covered the entire Middle East to include the Gulf Arab state where the Palestinian Islamist group has long owned its political base.

An Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that Israel had launched an attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Qatar's Al Jazeera television, citing Hamas sources, said the attack targeted negotiators of the Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.

Several explosions were heard in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, September 9, according to Reuters witnesses.

A puff of black smoke rose from the Legifya gas station in the city. Right next to the gas station, there is a small housing complex guarded by Qatar emiri troops 24 hours a day since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

Israeli media, citing a senior Israeli official, said the attack was aimed at high-ranking Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the chief Hamas in exiled Gaza and the main negotiator.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Israeli military to prepare to attack the leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following a deadly attack on Jerusalem on Monday.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had carried out a special operation against senior Hamas officials, but did not specify it. The statement comes amid reports of a series of explosions in Doha.

Qatari authorities consider Israel responsible and condemn the attack a threat to civilians. Later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement stating that Israel had started and carried out this operation against Hamas Leaders independently and fully responsible for the operation.