Israel’s reported strike on Qatar targeted senior Hamas figures, with the group confirming that five of its members and a Qatari officer were killed, though top leaders are said to have survived, reported Al Jazeera.
According to Hamas, the attack was aimed at Khalil al-Hayya, a senior leader who has risen in prominence after the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, and military commander Mohammed Deif last year.
Al-Hayya now sits among the five members steering Hamas’s leadership council.
Another possible target was Zaher Jabarin, the movement’s chief financial administrator, who has long been on Israel’s radar for his role in managing Hamas’s funding networks, reported Al Jazeera.
As per the report, Hamas identified those killed in the strike as: Jihad Labad, director of al-Hayya’s office; Humam al-Hayya, Khalil al-Hayya’s son;
Abdullah Abdul Wahid, bodyguard; Moamen Hassouna, bodyguard; and Ahmed al-Mamluk, bodyguard.
Despite the losses, Hamas said its senior leaders survived the attack, while Israel has not publicly commented on the identities of those it targeted.
