A Washington Post exclusive reveals that Mossad declined to carry out a ground assassination plan in Qatar, forcing Israel to rely on an airstrike that missed top Hamas leaders — deepening tensions between Netanyahu, the intelligence community, and Doha.
Israel’s dramatic strike on Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar this week is now raising serious questions after a Washington Post investigation revealed that the Mossad refused to carry out a ground operation against the terror group’s leadership.
According to two Israeli sources with direct knowledge, Mossad Director David Barnea rejected a covert plan to eliminate Hamas leaders inside Qatar, warning that such an operation would devastate the agency’s delicate ties with Doha, which has been hosting Hamas and mediating ceasefire negotiations.
Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a fallback option:
- 15 Israeli fighter jets
- 10 precision missiles
- Aimed at a Hamas leadership meeting in the Qatari capital
But the airstrike failed to kill senior Hamas officials, including acting leader Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas claims the attack instead killed several aides, relatives, and even a Qatari officer, sparking outrage in Doha.
One Israeli official told the Post:
“Israel did not get who they wanted.”
Another said Mossad believed the operation was poorly timed, noting Hamas leaders were in Doha reviewing a Trump-brokered ceasefire and hostage-release proposal.
“We can get them in one, two, or four years from now. Mossad knows how to do it. Why do it now?”
The internal dispute highlights growing friction within Israel’s security establishment. While consensus remains that Hamas’s leadership must be eliminated, many question whether striking in Qatar — a close US ally — risks more diplomatic fallout than strategic gain.
Qatar denounced the strike as “state terrorism” and vowed to reassess its mediator role. Netanyahu fired back Wednesday:
“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists — you either expel them or bring them to justice. If you don’t, we will.”
The failed strike not only threatens Israel’s already fragile diplomatic ties with Doha but also underscores the divide between Netanyahu’s hard-charging approach and Mossad’s cautious, long-game strategy.
