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Source: https://www.jns.org/hamass-leadership-abroad-was-blocking-compromise/
Hamas Leaders in Qatar Were Blocking Compromise
(JNS) Yaakov Lappin - An Israeli strike on Tuesday targeted Hamas's senior political-terrorist leadership in Doha, Qatar. Israel said the targeted leaders have been directing the war, are directly responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, and that measures were taken to mitigate harm to civilians. Oded Ailam, a former head of the Counterterrorism Division in the Mossad and currently a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told JNS that the timing of the strike was driven by several factors, including recognition in Israel that the hostage negotiations had reached a dead end. "Israel is creating a demonstration of intent; that we are serious about what we said - the total elimination of Hamas. And the proof is that we are not afraid to do something we have almost never done before and take responsibility for an aerial kinetic attack on a country that is not defined as an enemy state." "The idea is to project uncompromising determination. A message to the captors: if you harm the hostages...you will have no place to hide."