Israel’s strike on Qatar dispels any belief that it is focused on peace

Qatar will hold an emergency summit with Arab nations this weekend after Israel bombed the Hamas headquarters in Doha.

So what? Israel and Hamas have been negotiating a possible ceasefire for Gaza and return of Israeli hostages, with Qatar hosting the Hamas leadership and acting as broker for the process. On Tuesday, Tel Aviv tried to kill those on the other side of the table. This may

• put paid to talks that were already faltering;
• make Qatar rethink the value of its role as mediator; and
• sow doubt among allies, if it wasn’t already there, about Israel’s desire for peace.

A place called Qatar. As a wealthy Gulf nation that hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, it would have been fair for Qatar to assume it wouldn’t be targeted by Israel. Then Israel launched what it called a “precise strike” on a residential area in Doha.

How precise? Not enough, it seems. According to Hamas, six people were killed, including the son of the chief ceasefire negotiator and a Qatari security official. But the militant group says its senior leadership survived the strike.

The attack. Israel used its US-supplied F-15I fighters and most likely US Paveway laser-guided bombs. They probably crossed the airspace of Jordan and Iraq on the way to Qatar.

When did the US know? Apparently only when the aircraft were already in the air. The US has a substantial base in Bahrain that would have seen the fighters coming. While the White House said it had a vague indication of an attack, it was only able to inform Qatar when it had started.

Nothing to do with us. American officials say the US didn’t help in carrying out the strike. Israel wouldn’t have needed US assistance to locate the building or hit it.

View from Doha. The emir called it a “reckless criminal attack” and “state terrorism”. The prime minister said that it was a deliberate effort to undermine negotiations. Qatar’s dual role as a ceasefire mediator and the home of Hamas has left the state in an awkward cleft. It has the dubious distinction of being bombed by both Israel and Iran in the same year.

View from Washington. Donald Trump has said that the bombing doesn’t advance Israel or US goals, and undermines ongoing peace efforts.

Does it? Yes. While the Qatari government might swallow its pride – and the upcoming emergency summit suggests this isn’t certain – Hamas leadership is unlikely to take attempted assassination with sangfroid. There could be reprisals against Israelis still held by the group.

View from the hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the loved ones of most of the 48 people still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are thought to be alive, said “grave fear now hangs over the price the hostages may pay”.

Why Israel did it. Benjamin Netanyahu clearly wanted to kill the Hamas leadership, but even just cratering the ceasefire process seems to suit his aims. The IDF has turned its focus to Gaza City, population one million, in its efforts to re-occupy the enclave and erase Hamas completely.

What’s more… History suggests this won’t succeed. None of the efforts over decades to squash Palestinian resistance have brought peace and security to the Israeli people.