WASHINGTON – Elliott Abrams, a veteran American diplomat and former US special representative for Iran and Venezuela, said on Tuesday that Israel was within its rights to target Hamas leaders in Doha and urged that Egypt, not Qatar, serve as the main intermediary in hostage and ceasefire negotiations.
“It may have big implications, but the principle we should support is that Israel has the right to strike terrorists who are trying to kill Israelis and destroy the State of Israel,” Abrams told The Jerusalem Post on the sidelines of the Middle East-America Dialogue (MEAD) summit in Washington. “They don’t gain immunity just because they are in one capital as opposed to another.”
Abrams welcomed reports that Washington had prior notice of the operation. “I’m very glad at the reports that the United States had advance notice and gave a green light,” he said. The White House, however, characterized the strike in Qatar as an “unfortunate incident” that does not advance US or Israeli goals; officials said they warned Doha the attack was coming but distanced Washington from the decision to hit a close ally’s capital.
He predicted limited political fallout and said the episode should push Doha to reconsider hosting Hamas leaders.
“Qatar as [a] negotiator or intermediary is not trustworthy. I’d much rather see Egypt as the interlocutor,” he said, adding that talks can and should continue without Doha.
Israel’s strike in the Qatari capital on Tuesday targeted Hamas leaders as they discussed a US-backed ceasefire proposal, according to officials and media reports. The terror group said its senior leaders survived while confirming fatalities among aides and relatives, including the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya; a Qatari security officer was also reportedly killed. Doha condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and international law.
Qatar to continue as mediator
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and several governments criticized the strike, warning it could complicate mediation. Qatar’s prime minister said Doha reserves the right to respond but will continue efforts to broker a hostage-ceasefire deal.
Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former deputy national security adviser in the George W. Bush and Trump administrations, argued that shifting mediation to Cairo could preserve momentum in the talks. “The notion that this means there can’t be a negotiation is wrong,” he said.