The IDF chief after the attack in Qatar: 'We are settling a moral account'

The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, authorized on Tuesday night an attack against senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.

The operation, carried out by the Israeli Air Force, was presented as part of a broader offensive aimed at ensuring the security of the Jewish state and holding accountable those who orchestrated the October 7 massacre.

Zamir personally addressed the pilots before giving the attack order:
"You are authorized. Go out and thwart the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas. We are settling a moral and ethical account on behalf of all the victims of October 7. We won't rest and we won't stop until we bring our hostages home and defeat Hamas."

The military chief emphasized that the targets hit were responsible for driving the campaign of destruction against Israel:
"These are the terrorists whose only aspiration was to be at the forefront of the annihilation of the State of Israel. We will continue this mission everywhere, at any distance, near or far, to settle accounts with our enemies."

According to an official statement from Hamas, five of its members were killed in the Israeli attack. Among them was Humam al-Hayya, son of Jalil al-Hayya, head of the movement's political bureau in Gaza and one of the main exiled leaders in Doha. Jihad Labad, director of Hayya's office, as well as Abdullah Abdul Wahid, Moamen Hassouna, and Ahmed al-Mamluk were also identified, described only as "Hamas members."

Although the terrorist organization claimed that Israel attempted to assassinate its negotiating team in the ceasefire talks, in Jerusalem officials emphasized that the objective was to strike the command core responsible for planning and directing the attacks against Israel, including the October 7, 2023 massacre, in which about 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed.

With this operation in the heart of Doha, Israel sends an unequivocal message: geographical distance doesn't protect those responsible for Hamas's crimes. The pursuit will continue until the hostages return and the terrorist threat is neutralized.