Hamas confirms: Khalil al-Hayya is alive, but Israeli attack on Doha exacerbates regional tensions

Hamas leader survives Israeli raid in Qatar, but incident undermines mediation efforts and intensifies friction with Arab allies

After days of silence, Hamas breaks its silence on the fate of its leader Khalil Hayya, chief negotiator of the Palestinian organisation, declaring that he did not die in the Israeli raid in Doha, in which his son, several bodyguards and a Qatari policeman were killed. The announcement, without photographic evidence, emphasised that Hayya had attended a funeral prayer in Qatar for the victims of the attack.

The dynamics of the 9 September bombing remain unclear, fuelling diplomatic tensions between the Gulf countries and Israel. The Emirates summoned the Israeli ambassador, while Egypt reduced coordination contacts with Tel Aviv, according to media sources.

Hamas reiterated its intention to continue its resistance to the Israeli occupation, denouncing the failure to comply with its negotiating demands, which include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the affected areas. Meanwhile, the Israeli offensive continues in the Strip with about sixty deaths, including fourteen members of the same family, while a Palestinian wounded two people near Jerusalem.

On the international front, Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad Al Thani flew to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Marc Rubio and strengthen relations with the United States, with a possible meeting with President Donald Trump. Rubio will then travel to Israel to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the future accession of several countries to the recognition of the Palestinian state.

At the same time, the UN General Assembly approved by 142 votes in favour the so-called New York Declaration, drafted by France and Saudi Arabia, which relaunches the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, excluding Hamas.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, will be the scene of regional discussions on the response to the Israeli attack, with all six member countries participating, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Qatari authorities have reiterated that the response will be “regional” and within the limits of international law, distinguishing themselves from Israeli conduct.

THE LATEST NEWS

• International-News

Europe prepares for possible war with Russia simulation shows unpreparedness

6 Febbraio 2026

Strategic war game and security officials warn of faster Russian military readiness and potential NATO vulnerabilities The scenario in which...

Read More

• International-News

España prohibirá el acceso a redes sociales a menores de 16 años

3 Febbraio 2026

El gobierno de Pedro Sánchez anuncia medidas para responsabilizar a los directivos de plataformas digitales por contenidos ilegales y garantizar...

Read More

• International-News

Trump seeks $1 billion damages from Harvard University

3 Febbraio 2026

The U.S. president accuses Harvard of illegal conduct and attacks The New York Times over what he calls misleading coverage...

Read More

• International-News

SpaceX acquires xAI to build orbital data centers for AI

3 Febbraio 2026

Elon Musk merges SpaceX and xAI to combine rocket technology and artificial intelligence, targeting space-based data processing infrastructure SpaceX acquires...

Read More

• International-News

US House vote to stop partial government shutdown faces resistance

3 Febbraio 2026

Republicans scramble for votes as Democrats oppose Senate deal tied to immigration enforcement funding The US House vote to stop...

Read More

• International-News

Iran ready to negotiate with the United States on nuclear talks

2 Febbraio 2026

Tehran signals willingness to resume diplomacy, while U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff prepares for meetings in Israel and Turkey remains a...

Read More

(Photo: © AndKronos)