Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad, reportedly refused to conduct a ground operation to assassinate top Hamas leaders based in Doha, Qatar, a decision that preceded last Monday’s failed Israeli airstrike and has sparked political controversy in both Israel and Washington.
According to reporting by The Washington Post, Mossad declined to carry out the planned operation, warning that such an action could jeopardize ongoing ceasefire negotiations, the release of Israeli captives, and Israel’s sensitive intelligence relationship with Qatar. Doha has long played a critical role as mediator between Israel and Hamas, as well as in broader regional negotiations.
With Mossad unwilling to proceed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz authorized an alternative: a large-scale airstrike. The strike involved eight F-15 fighter jets and four F-35 stealth aircraft, which targeted a compound where senior Hamas leaders were believed to be reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal.
Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly opposed the strike altogether, but his objections were overruled. Israeli military officials outside the Mossad were also sidelined from the decision-making process. The attack ultimately failed to achieve its primary objective. Instead, it killed the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, three of his associates, one of al-Hayya’s staff members, and a Qatari security officer.
The fallout has been immediate. Qatar, which has hosted negotiations not only for the current Gaza conflict but also for U.S.-Taliban talks in recent years, announced it was suspending its mediation role. The move has effectively stalled ongoing peace discussions.
Diplomatically, the strike has strained relations with Washington. Qatar hosts one of the largest U.S. military bases in the Middle East, and the attack has created unease among American officials. While the Biden administration has sought to distance itself from the strike, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Jerusalem on Sunday. Rubio said Saturday that although Washington was “not happy” about the attack, it did not fundamentally alter the U.S.-Israel relationship.