Mossad chief David Barnea warned that a planned Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar could damage critical diplomatic ties, The Washington Post reported, citing two Israelis familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Despite the spy chief’s objections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an air strike after the agency refused to carry out a ground offensive targeting senior Hamas officials. Barnea cautioned that such an attack risked undermining Qatar’s role as a mediator, which has hosted Hamas leaders for over a decade.
