Israeli PM says Hamas leaders in Doha are hindering hostage release and ending Gaza war. Qatar condemns Israeli strikes.
Benjamin Netanyahu on Hamas leaders in Qatar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Hamas leaders in exile in Qatar are the main obstacle to the release of hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.
Israel had earlier carried out airstrikes on Hamas representatives in Doha, which provoked a sharp reaction from Qatar, which had previously acted as a mediator in the negotiations. According to sources, five Hamas members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya, but key leaders and negotiators survived. Qatar also reported the death of an internal security officer.
Positions of the parties
“The terrorist leaders in Qatar do not care about the people of Gaza. They block all attempts to reach agreements, only prolonging the war indefinitely,” Netanyahu wrote in X.
Hamas, in turn, stated that the attack was an attempt to disrupt the negotiations and would not affect its conditions: the release of the hostages is possible only in exchange for a complete cessation of the war and guarantees of Palestinian statehood.
Israeli demands
Israel insists that the hostages must be released without preconditions, and Hamas must be disarmed. This is unacceptable for the group, as it demands political concessions and international recognition.
