"The days when terror leaders enjoyed diplomatic immunity are over," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference on Tuesday at the US Embassy in Israel's Independence Day event following Israel's strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.
"This strike could mean the end of the war in Gaza. Israel has accepted the proposal put forward by President Trump, beginning with the immediate release of all our hostages from the hands of Hamas," he said, and added that after this, the Middle East could begin to work on "the expansion of peace in the region."
"We received the order from President Trump to end the war and bring all of the hostages home," said Netanyahu.
"Yesterday, four of our soldiers were killed in Gaza, and six Israeli civilians were brutally murdered at a bus stop in Jerusalem in a terror attack. This morning, Hamas proudly took responsibility for both of these actions," he started saying during the conference.
"At noon today, I convened the heads of Israel's security organizations and ordered a surgical precision strike on the terrorist chiefs of Hamas," he announced.
He also added, "It's important to remember that these are the Hamas chiefs that planned, launched, and even celebrated the horrific massacres of October 7. The salvage murder of 1200 people, the beheading of a man, the rape and murder of women, and the burning of babies. The taking of over 250 hostages."
They perpetrated the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. And they were meeting in the same place where they celebrated this savagery at the beginning of the war."
"Much of the world, and the democratic world, forgot October 7. But I don't forget, and Israel will never forget," he stated.
He ended by saying, "I want to direct my words to the people of Gaza. Don't be derailed by these killers. They don't care about you. Stand up for your rights, accept Trump's proposal, and we can promise you a different future."
Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatar
Netanyahu's statement comes as Israel strikes the Hamas leadership in Doha, with different reports saying that between 4 and 8 Hamas officials were present during the strike.
The strike results were still under review, with Army Radio reporting that the Israeli leadership was optimistic about reaching its targets.
Several Middle Eastern countries, as well as the international community, condemned the attack, with Qatar calling it a "criminal assault that constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms."