A senior Hamas leader who was targeted in Israel’s recent military strike on a residential compound in Doha has made his first public appearance since the attack, appearing unharmed during an Al Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday evening.
Ghazi Hamad, who was among the primary targets in Israel’s September 9 operation, described how he and others had gathered at the compound to discuss a new American-backed peace proposal for Gaza when the attack occurred. “Less than an hour into our discussion of the American proposal to end the war, we heard explosions and quickly realized we were under attack,” Hamad revealed during the interview.
The operation, which resulted in the deaths of five Hamas officials and a Qatari security guard, was executed using Israeli warplanes launching long-range missiles from the Red Sea. According to U.S. officials, the mission involved eight F-15s and four F-35s that fired air-launched ballistic missiles over Saudi Arabian airspace toward Doha.
Hamad provided a detailed account of the attack, stating that approximately twelve missiles struck in rapid succession within a minute. “As Gaza residents, we’re familiar with these sounds. We managed to evacuate the area quickly,” he explained. The Hamas official also delivered defiant messages during the interview, declaring that they were “not afraid of Trump’s threats” and would continue handling enemy prisoners according to their own methods and religious principles.
Reports suggest that Israeli intelligence officials had expressed strong opposition to the operation before its execution. The decision to use long-range missiles fired from the Red Sea was reportedly chosen to minimize the possibility of U.S. intervention and avoid entering Arab nations’ airspace directly.
Israeli media sources have indicated that the warheads’ explosive power was intentionally limited to minimize civilian casualties and avoid severely damaging diplomatic relations with Qatar. This strategic decision may have contributed to some targets, including Hamad, surviving the attack.
The strike has created diplomatic tensions, with former President Trump expressing displeasure over the attack on Qatar, a U.S. ally. However, some observers speculate that Trump’s public anger might be theatrical, suggesting possible prior U.S. approval for the operation.
Hamad’s television appearance follows an earlier interview with another Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, who was not among the intended targets of the strike. The survival of key Hamas leaders and the limited success of the operation has led some officials and Israeli media to characterize the mission as unsuccessful.
The complex operation highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and Israel’s continued efforts to target Hamas leadership, even in territories far from its borders. The choice of Qatar as a target location and the method of attack demonstrate the evolving nature of military operations in the Middle East, where diplomatic
considerations and technological capabilities play crucial roles in strategic decision-making.
Despite the attack’s limited success in eliminating its primary targets, the operation has significant implications for regional stability and international relations, particularly regarding the delicate balance between military objectives and diplomatic
consequences. The incident also underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving peace in the region, as evidenced by the targeting of Hamas officials while they were reportedly discussing peace proposals.