Did Hamas leaders survive Qatar attack because they went to pray?

Al-Hayya’s co-chair Khaled Mashaal was not present and remains alive.

Hamas has denied that any of its leadership died, while Palestinian media reported that al-Hayya's son, Himam, and Jihad Labad, the director of his office, were killed.

According to Al-Jazeera, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal developed by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. An unnamed senior Qatari official told the Times of Israel that the attendees had travelled to Doha from Turkey for the gathering.

An IDF spokesperson said: “The IDF and ISA [Shin Bet] conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organisation.

“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.

“Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.

“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7th massacre.”

The military did not confirm whether there had been any casualties and did not identify the strike’s individual targets.

However, Channel 12’s Barak Ravid reported that an Israeli official had confirmed to him that the operation was “an assassination attempt against Hamas officials”, dubbed the “Summit of Fire”.

The same outlet also stated that US President Trump gave the “green light” for the strike, despite his administration’s close relations with Qatar. Washington has declined to comment, but Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to take questions on the matter during her regular media briefing later this afternoon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office sought to downplay claims of US involvement, saying: “Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation.

“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”

And public broadcaster Kan reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu left a private legal hearing to address “an exceptional security matter” and held a lengthy meeting with his military secretary, Major General Roman Gofman.

The strike has been condemned by Qatar, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying: “This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar.

"While strongly condemning this attack, the State of Qatar affirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and its continued tampering with regional security, as well as any action targeting its security and sovereignty.

"Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they become available.”

It has already drawn praise from Israeli politicians, though, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich labelling it “the correct decision”.

"Terrorists have no and will have no immunity from the long arm of Israel anywhere in the world,” he wrote on X.

And Opposition Leader Yair Lapid congratulated “the Air Force, IDF, Shin Bet and all security forces for an extraordinary operation to thwart our enemy”.