Israel Doubts Success of Qatar Strike Targeting Hamas Leaders

Israeli officials are increasingly casting doubt on the effectiveness of a recent strike in Qatar aimed at the leadership of the Hamas terror group. While the operation, dubbed “Operation Summit of Fire,” took place on Tuesday, September 9th, sources within Israel’s defense and intelligence community are now expressing significant pessimism regarding its lethality against top targets.

Reports from Hebrew-language outlets, citing anonymous officials, indicate that initial optimism is fading, with no current confirmation that senior Hamas figures were killed. Kan public broadcaster reported that Israel informed the US of a significant decrease in the chances of success. Hamas quickly insisted that its top politburo leaders survived the attack, though it confirmed the deaths of five lower-level members.

The strike targeted a meeting of Hamas’s top leadership outside Gaza, believed to be discussing a new US-sponsored hostage-ceasefire proposal. The operation has also generated international and internal criticism, with US President Donald Trump expressing dissatisfaction over the attack on an American ally, and reports suggesting that key Israeli officials had opposed the timing. Despite the growing doubts, Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed Israel’s commitment to pursuing those involved in the October 7, 2023, massacre, stating, “Israel’s security doctrine is clear — its long arm will act against its enemies everywhere.” A battle damage assessment remains ongoing.

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