In a dramatic turn of events, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has reported that while five of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, an attempt to assassinate its negotiating team was unsuccessful. The incident, which occurred at a residential compound in the Qatari capital, has sent shockwaves through the international community and further complicated the ongoing Gaza conflict.

According to Hamas officials, the negotiating team was in the midst of discussing the latest US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip when a series of explosions rocked the compound. The attack, which Hamas claims was carried out by Israel, resulted in significant damage to the building and the loss of five lives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly took responsibility for the strike, describing it as "fully justified" and citing the targeting of senior Hamas leaders involved in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as the motivation. This attack had initially triggered the current Gaza war, making it a point of particular significance for the Israeli government.

The strike has drawn sharp criticism from Qatar, which condemned the attack as "cowardly" and a "flagrant violation of international law." Qatar's interior ministry confirmed that one member of its Internal Security Force was killed and others were injured in the incident, though they did not specifically mention any Hamas casualties.

Eyewitnesses in Doha reported hearing up to eight separate explosions on Tuesday afternoon, with plumes of smoke visible rising above the city's northern Katara district. Qatari authorities stated that the strike hit "residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet internal security service released a joint statement claiming they had conducted "a precise strike targeting the senior leadership" of Hamas. Israeli media reports suggest that the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target within a few seconds.

Among the Hamas members reportedly targeted were Khalil al-Hayya, the chief negotiator and exiled Gaza leader, and Zaher Jabarin, the exiled West Bank leader. However, Hamas maintains that its leadership survived the attack.

The incident has raised concerns about the future of peace negotiations in the region. Qatar, which has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012, has played a crucial role as a mediator in indirect negotiations between the group and Israel, alongside the US and Egypt.

The White House responded to the attack, with US President Donald Trump describing the incident as "unfortunate" but maintaining that eliminating Hamas was "a worthy goal." This statement highlights the complex dynamics at play, given Qatar's status as a key US ally in the region and host to a major American air base.

As tensions continue to escalate, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing conflict while grappling with the implications of this latest development in the volatile Middle East region.