Turkey warned Hamas ahead of Israeli strike in Doha

Turkey’s intelligence service (MIT) warned a Hamas delegation in Qatar about an imminent Israeli strike, allowing negotiators to survive the Sept. 9 attack in Doha, Türkiye newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing Turkish and Egyptian officials, said both governments had urged Hamas weeks earlier to tighten security. Israeli warplanes launched missiles outside Qatari airspace without flying over Saudi Arabia or the UAE, the paper said.

Israel targeted Hamas figures in Doha after strikes on Tunisia’s coast, Syria’s Latakia and Tartus, as well as Lebanon and Gaza. Hamas said six people were killed, including Hammam al-Hayya, son of senior Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya.

Israeli officials expressed doubts over the outcome of the Doha strike, saying top Hamas leaders were not eliminated. Hamas denied its negotiators were killed.

 Israel launched the operation, dubbed “Summit of Fire,” after a Sept. 8 shooting at Jerusalem’s entrance killed six people. Hamas claimed responsibility.

The attack drew condemnation from Qatar, the EU, Canada and the UK, while US President Donald Trump called it a “sad incident” but suggested it could become “an opportunity for peace.”

Qatar’s prime minister accused Israel of “state terrorism” and vowed countermeasures.