Hamas leader survives Israeli raid in Qatar, but incident undermines mediation efforts and intensifies friction with Arab allies
After days of silence, Hamas breaks its silence on the fate of its leader Khalil Hayya, chief negotiator of the Palestinian organisation, declaring that he did not die in the Israeli raid in Doha, in which his son, several bodyguards and a Qatari policeman were killed. The announcement, without photographic evidence, emphasised that Hayya had attended a funeral prayer in Qatar for the victims of the attack.
The dynamics of the 9 September bombing remain unclear, fuelling diplomatic tensions between the Gulf countries and Israel. The Emirates summoned the Israeli ambassador, while Egypt reduced coordination contacts with Tel Aviv, according to media sources.
Hamas reiterated its intention to continue its resistance to the Israeli occupation, denouncing the failure to comply with its negotiating demands, which include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the affected areas. Meanwhile, the Israeli offensive continues in the Strip with about sixty deaths, including fourteen members of the same family, while a Palestinian wounded two people near Jerusalem.
On the international front, Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad Al Thani flew to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Marc Rubio and strengthen relations with the United States, with a possible meeting with President Donald Trump. Rubio will then travel to Israel to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the future accession of several countries to the recognition of the Palestinian state.
At the same time, the UN General Assembly approved by 142 votes in favour the so-called New York Declaration, drafted by France and Saudi Arabia, which relaunches the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, excluding Hamas.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, will be the scene of regional discussions on the response to the Israeli attack, with all six member countries participating, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Qatari authorities have reiterated that the response will be “regional” and within the limits of international law, distinguishing themselves from Israeli conduct.
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