Netanyahu Urges Removal of Hamas Chiefs in Qatar to Unlock Gaza Hostage Deal

Lead: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday that eliminating Hamas leaders based in Qatar would remove the main obstacle to freeing captives and ending the Gaza conflict, speaking from Jerusalem ahead of an Arab-Islamic summit in Doha.

Nut Graf: Netanyahu’s statement follows an Israeli airstrike on a Hamas meeting in Doha that killed mid-level figures but spared top commanders, straining ties with Qatar, a key mediator in hostage negotiations, and prompting U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio’s urgent visit to Israel to discuss the fallout and prospects for a ceasefire.

Airstrike in Doha

• Israeli jets targeted a residential compound hosting Hamas members, killing five militants and one Qatari security officer.
• Senior Hamas leaders survived, dealing a blow to Netanyahu’s bid for “total victory” over the group.

Diplomatic Backlash

• Qatar condemned the violation of its sovereignty and warned the strike jeopardizes fragile ceasefire talks.
• Arab foreign ministers will convene in Doha on Monday to coordinate a response to the attack and discuss regional security.

U.S. Reaction

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jerusalem to meet Netanyahu, emphasizing continued U.S.-Israel alliance despite President Trump’s unhappiness over the Doha operation.
• Rubio’s agenda includes securing hostage releases, boosting humanitarian aid flow to Gaza civilians, and containing Hamas’s threat.

Hamas Response and Hostage Impasse

• Hamas denounced the airstrike as an attempt to derail negotiations and insisted it will not alter release terms without a comprehensive war-termination deal.
• Forty-eight Israelis remain captive in Gaza, with Israel demanding full release and disarmament as prerequisites for any ceasefire.

Political Stakes for Netanyahu

• Hard-line members of Netanyahu’s coalition back the aggressive strategy, even at the risk of international isolation.
• Critics, including Israeli hostage families groups, accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging deals to maintain power, while public opinion shows growing fatigue over the two-year-long conflict.

What’s Next

With hostilities set to continue and diplomatic channels under strain, Netanyahu’s call to expel Hamas leaders from Qatar could redefine the parameters of future negotiations or further entrench the stalemate in Gaza.