Doha, 11 Sep

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of destroying chances for a hostage deal after Israel’s strike in Doha killed at least six people, including relatives and aides of Hamas leaders.

“I think what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages,” Sheikh Mohammed told CNN, adding he had met a hostage’s family just hours before the attack.

Qatar, alongside Egypt, has been a key mediator in ceasefire talks. The strike on the territory of a US ally sparked widespread condemnation across the Middle East, with Netanyahu warning Qatar to expel Hamas leaders or face further action.

Hamas claimed its top leaders survived the strike, though five others, including the son of senior leader Khalil al-Hayya, were killed. The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 assault on Israel, has so far left 1,200 Israelis and over 64,600 Palestinians dead.