Israeli officials claim that the Israeli strike in Qatar, targeting a gathering of senior Hamas officials, will actually help advance negotiations for a hostage deal.
"At first, Hamas will likely declare that there will be no negotiations and no deal, but in the end - the talks will resume," an Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post.
The source added that, assuming several top Hamas leaders who were in the apartment were killed, the one senior figure who survived, because he wasn't there, is Hamas official Khaled Mashaal.
"It's not that Mashal is pragmatic," the source clarified, "but in recent weeks he has been pushing other senior Hamas figures to go ahead with the deal."
Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch said in a message to the hostages’ families that for a long time, the Hamas leadership abroad - known as “Hamas Abroad” - has been a key obstacle to reaching an agreement.
"Even in the face of significant Israeli flexibility and prolonged negotiations, this leadership disrupted progress toward a deal, violated understandings, and created numerous difficulties and obstacles," Hirsch wrote to the families.
Israeli officials also believe the assassination will significantly reduce Qatar’s role in the negotiation process.
'Days are over when terrorist leaders could enjoy immunity anywhere'
Speaking at the US Embassy's Independence Day event at the Museum of Tolerance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the operation in Qatar, saying, "Today, a unique opportunity arose to eliminate senior Hamas leaders abroad. The IDF and Shin Bet executed it with precision."
Netanyahu added, "The days are over when terrorist leaders could enjoy immunity anywhere."
The Security Cabinet was not briefed in advance about the operation in Qatar and learned about it through the media. However, the "Group of Seven" - a smaller forum comprising the prime minister and several key ministers - was informed of the strike beforehand.
Several sources who spoke to the Post said there was no unified stance among the heads of Israel’s security agencies. "Shin Bet supported the operation, but parts of the security establishment were less enthusiastic." The sources added that Mossad chief David Barnea was not opposed to the operation itself, but rather to its timing.
During a recent cabinet meeting, Barnea reportedly told ministers, "You can’t eliminate senior Hamas officials abroad while negotiations are still ongoing with them."
"Eventually, Netanyahu slammed his fist on the table and said, ‘We’re doing this now.’"
The US administration was briefed in advance and gave its general approval for the operation.
"There were a lot of smiles in Washington on Tuesday," a source familiar with the details told the Post.
Despite the general satisfaction, there was anger in Washington over Israeli leaks suggesting the US had prior knowledge of the operation.
In response, Netanyahu’s office issued an official clarification in English: "Today's action against senior Hamas terror leaders was a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel executed it, and Israel takes full responsibility.
Although Israeli officials claimed the US had advance knowledge of the strike, and they were even given a green light, a US official told the Post that no advance warning was given, and no approval was given either.
US President Donald Trump believes Israel's strike on Hamas targets in Qatar was unfortunate, and he directed a top aide, Steve Witkoff, to warn Qatar that the attack was coming, the White House said.
The call from one of the US officials was received when the sound of explosions was heard, and was not made prior to the strike, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.
Trump spoke to both Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar after the strikes, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Trump assured the Qatari leader that "such a thing will not happen again on their soil."
Reuters contributed to this report.