Israel conducted an attack in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday, with the primary objective of targeting Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader. Al-Hayya plays a pivotal role in Hamas’s strategic and political planning. Israeli authorities verified that the attack targeted al-Hayya and other significant leaders. However, the Hamas negotiating team in Doha was unharmed.
Al-Hayya’s role became more significant following the deaths of key Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. He holds a central position in the organization’s newly formed five-member leadership council. He is now recognized as Hamas’s most influential leader, serving as the organization’s international voice. Khalil al-Hayya, born in the Gaza Strip in 1960, has endured significant personal suffering. He has experienced the pain of losing family members to Israeli attacks. His son, daughter-in-law, and young grandchildren were among the casualties. His family suffered greatly during the 2007 and 2014 Gaza conflicts. Al-Hayya has been arrested by Israeli security forces on several occasions.