Israel will kill Hamas leaders next time if they survived Qatar attack, Israeli official says

The Israeli ambassador to the United States said that if Israel failed to kill Hamas leaders in an airstrike in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday, it would succeed next time, which raised concerns the attack could threaten efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

"We have put terrorists on notice, wherever they may be .... we're going to pursue them, and we're going to destroy those who will destroy us," Yechiel Leiter said in a speech at the U.S. Capitol complex on Wednesday.

In his speech at an event marking the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and some Muslim-majority countries, Leiter criticised Qatar.

Qatar has been hosting and mediating in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.

"What is Qatar doing if not financing and supporting terrorism by playing host to Hamas, the very people who sent the terrorists who murdered six people sitting at a bus stop in Jerusalem waiting to go about their business?" Leiter said.

Israel attempted to kill political leaders of Hamas with a strike in the Qatari capital, escalating its military action in what the U.S. described as a unilateral attack that does not advance American and Israeli interests.

Hamas said five of its members were killed, including the son of its exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. However, it said its top leaders survived.

The airstrike took place shortly after Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting on Monday that killed six people at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

His Excellency Prime Minister, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told CNN on Wednesday that a response to Israel's attacks was being discussed with regional partners and leaders would meet in Doha in the near future.

When asked if Doha would shut down Hamas' political office, he said his government was "reassessing everything" about what steps it would take. 

"We are in a very detailed conversation with the United States' government and we need to understand what will be the way forward," he said. 

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