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Black smoke rose over the skyline of the Qatari capital, Doha, with authorities there acknowledging the strike.
The news channel Al Arabiya reported that, according to preliminary information, Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya had been killed in the attack. There was initially no official confirmation of the death of al-Hayya or other Hamas officials.
Al-Hayya is the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad, leading the group’s delegation in indirect negotiations with Israel for a ceasefire. He spent most of his time in Qatar.
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“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said, adding that “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”