'Optimism fading': Israeli official question success of strike on Qatar; Hamas leaders reportedly survive

Israeli officials expressed growing doubt on Wednesday over the success of a bold airstrike in Qatar targeting the top leadership of Hamas , as anonymous cited by Times of Israel suggested optimism over the operation was fading.

The strike, carried out on Tuesday and dubbed “Operation Summit of Fire” by the Israel Defense Forces , aimed at a meeting of Hamas leaders who were reportedly considering a US-sponsored ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Israel informed the United States that the chances of the strike achieving its intended outcome had “decreased significantly.”

One anonymous source told Channel 12, “Right now there’s no indication that the terrorists were killed. We continue to hope they were assassinated, but optimism is fading.” Similar assessments were shared by other unnamed Israeli officials, who told Ynet they were “pessimistic regarding the lethality of the strike on most of the targets, and perhaps all of them.” A formal battle damage assessment was ongoing.

The targeted gathering was believed to include Hamas’s senior leadership outside Gaza, among them Khalil al-Hayya, leader of Gaza’s units; Zaher Jabarin, head of Hamas in the West Bank; Muhammad Darwish, leader of the Shura Council; Nizar Awadallah; and Khaled Mashaal, the head of Hamas abroad. Hamas insisted its top leaders survived, although five lower-ranking members, including al-Hayya’s son, three bodyguards, and his office chief, were killed.

Tuesday’s strike, which reportedly involved at least ten bombs deployed by roughly ten aircraft, drew widespread condemnation. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, denounced Israel for “pushing the region toward irreparable instability” and violating international law, after consoling the family of a Qatari security official killed in the attack. Satellite images showed structural damage at the targeted compound, but nearby buildings remained largely intact, suggesting precision-guided munitions were used.

Domestically, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz defended the strike, stating anyone involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel “will have justice served,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised the decision was operationally timed, targeting a high-value gathering without harming civilians.