Targeted Hamas Official Gives First Interview Since Doha Strike

A senior Hamas official who was reportedly a target in the recent Israeli strike in Doha has appeared in his first public interview since the incident, confirming he survived the operation. Taher al-Nunu, an adviser to the former head of Hamas's political bureau, spoke on Al Jazeera just before an emergency Arab-Islamic summit was set to convene in Qatar. He stated that the "old negotiation approach" is no longer valid due to the strike, which he claims was an attempt to "destroy every chance" for a deal.

"We will not be more concerned for the hostages than Netanyahu is," al-Nunu said, claiming that the attack, which occurred just as Hamas was set to discuss a new US proposal, proves Israel has no value for the captives. He went on to call for an international decision to stop the hostilities and to "impose it on Netanyahu."

The Al Jazeera interview comes as a draft resolution for the upcoming summit warns of severe diplomatic consequences for Israel. According to a Reuters report, the draft states that Israel's "brutal attack" and "hostile actions" threaten "everything that has been achieved on the path to normalization," including "existing and future agreements." The implicit warning is a direct reference to the Abraham Accords.

The threat to the normalization deals is a real concern. Former Israeli Ambassador to the UAE, Amir Hayek, recently warned that the Emiratis take their statements seriously. He said that after the strike in Qatar, he "can't sleep at night" since the UAE has said the accords are in danger.

The strike, carried out by missiles fired from the Red Sea to avoid Arab airspace, killed several individuals but failed to eliminate its senior Hamas targets. The operation drew wide condemnation and caused immense frustration among hostage families, who feel it sabotaged a potential deal. The United States also expressed its displeasure with the timing of the strike, though US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a visit to Israel, reaffirmed that relations between Washington and Jerusalem "will remain strong."