The Israeli army said it had carried out air strikes against senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital.

Qatar condemned the attack on buildings housing members of the Palestinian armed movement.

Qatar, a key mediator in efforts to achieve a truce in Gaza, said the Israeli strikes targeted the homes of several members of Hamas' political bureau residing in the Gulf country, where the militant group's senior leadership is based.

A Hamas official in Gaza told AFP that the group's negotiators had been "targeted" in Doha, although it was not immediately clear whether the attack had caused any casualties.

"For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have directed the terrorist organization's operations, bear direct responsibility for the brutal massacre on October 7 (2023), and organize and direct the war against the State of Israel," the Israeli army said.

"The name of the operation in Doha is 'The Peak of Fire'. These were air strikes," an Israeli military representative told AFP.

Qatar condemned the attack, saying it targeted residential buildings where members of Hamas' political bureau lived.

"The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack targeting residential buildings where several members of the Hamas political bureau lived in the Qatari capital, Doha," Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari wrote in a post on X.

Today's strikes — Israel's first attack on the Western-backed Gulf state — came less than two weeks after the head of the Israeli armed forces vowed to strike against the group's leaders abroad.

"Most of Hamas' leaders are abroad, and we will get to them," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on August 31.

Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar has led multiple attempts to end the war in Gaza.

Despite two temporary truces, the series of negotiations has failed to bring about a lasting end to the war.

"May all your enemies perish, Israel," Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar wrote on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Israeli strikes against Hamas leaders were a "completely independent" operation.

"Today's action against Hamas's top terrorist leaders was a completely independent Israeli operation," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, adding:

"Israel initiated it, Israel carried it out, and Israel takes full responsibility for it."

Washington has urged its citizens in Doha to stay put.

"US citizens are advised to remain in place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates," the US embassy wrote.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel's "gross violation" of Qatar's sovereignty.

Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, described the attack as "a gross violation of all international rules and norms, a violation of Qatar's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an attack on Palestinian negotiators."

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi calling it "a continuation of Israel's brutal aggression that threatens security and stability in the region."

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed wrote on Twitter that his country was "in full solidarity with dear Qatar."

Islamic Jihad, which fights alongside Hamas in Gaza, also condemned the attack.

The attack came after Israel intensified its deadly assault on Gaza City, the largest urban center in the Palestinian territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video message to the city's residents: "I say to the residents: you have been warned, leave now!

All this is just a prelude, just the beginning of the main intensive operation—the ground maneuver of our forces, which are currently organizing and gathering to enter Gaza City," he said. | BGNES