In the very midst of an American mediation effort, it is unclear what drove Prime Minister Netanyahu to insist on eliminating the leadership of Hamas abroad, potentially dealing a fatal blow to the normalization vision that President Trump has pursued tirelessly.
Despite precise planning and execution, it is likely that the Israeli attempt to eliminate Hamas leadership in Qatar failed. Beyond the operational miss, Israel also paid a heavy diplomatic price. Such a failure not only leaves Hamas leaders in place but also grants the organization a temporary sense of immunity.
The apparent failure of the strike in Qatar and the continuation of Operation Gideon’s Chariots have raised deep concerns among the IDF high command. Senior officials sharply criticized last week’s attack in Doha, which was carried out against the advice of most of Israel's security chiefs.
After two years of war, not only our adversaries in the world but also our friends struggle to understand where Israel is heading. And the operation in Qatar, for many, was pouring a barrel of oil on the fire that was already burning around the globe in vain.
Charlie Kirk stood as a genuine defender of the State of Israel – a passionate advocate who successfully confronted pro-Palestinian activists. Few have stood by us as powerfully. A farewell to a true friend and gifted rhetorician.
From Istanbul, Hamas' Finance Minster Zaher Jabarin managed to raise nearly a billion dollars and refine the terror organization's capabilities.
If it turns out this was a deception exercise designed to gather Hamas leaders – this wouldn't be the first time. It worked successfully in Iran too.
In the October 7 context, the publicized thanksgiving prayer of the organization's leaders, who were in Turkey at the time, is well remembered.
Qatar’s actions have been a persistent and strategic threat to Israel and Western interests. Even though the regime has placed itself in the perfect position to leverage both sides, the fact that Israel has not categorized it as a hostile state was a huge mistake, and we paid the price on October 7.
The Shin Bet security agency proposed a similar operation a year ago, but the political echelon rejected it. This time, a combination of circumstances, including intelligence, led to a different decision.
