Senior Israeli security officials understood that Tuesday’s strike in Qatar had potentially deadly consequences for the hostages, N12 News reported on Friday.
Hostage families met with security officials involved in ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations after the strikes.
However, N12 reported that many feel that Israel’s decision to carry out the strike in spite of warnings from security officials will delay or cancel a deal to bring their loved ones home.
"Most security officials recommended postponing the strike. The position was clear – a deal for the return of the hostages is on the table, and we need to exhaust the negotiations,” a senior security source told families, as reported by N12.
“Everyone understood the implications for the hostages, that an action like this at the current timing could harm this possibility (of advancing the deal). It’s clear to everyone that these people need to be killed, but the decision-making process must also take into account what’s best for the hostages."
Familie fear that officials knew deadly effect of Qatar strike, but executed it regardless
When asked by a hostage family member how such a decision were made, the official remained silent. N12 reported that the families that were in the room interpreted his lack of an answer as a signal that the government was willing to give up the hostages to strike Qatar.
This comes after reports that other officials in the government and security agencies opposed the strike.
Two Israeli officials told the Washington Post that Mossad director David Barnea opposed the plan due to concerns about the future of the relationship the Mossad had built with the Qataris, noting that Doha was mediating hostage deal agreements between Israel and the terrorist organization.
Two separate sources familiar with the matter told N12 that Barnea had warned against the strikes in preliminary discussions.
"Until today, it was the Qataris who ultimately succeeded in influencing the deal, keep that in mind," Barnea said, according to the two officials.
Additionally, one former senior official from the Israeli intelligence agency told 103FM radio station on Thursday that its indirect contact with Qatar may have caused some of its officials to object to Israel's Tuesday airstrikes in Doha.
"I would hope that not everyone were 'yes-men' when discussions are being held," the former official had said.
There is also growing concern that the Hamas officials that the strike was meant to target were not killed.
"It will take a few days at least until we fully understand, but right now, the negotiations are at a complete standstill,” a senior Israeli official told N12.
“Qatar’s position as a mediator has been damaged, and the concern is that Hamas will harden its positions again – at least in the near term."