Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas' leadership in Qatar on Tuesday as they considered a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked a massive escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages.

Hamas says its top leaders survived Israeli strike on Qatar and that five lower-ranking members died.

A Qatari security personal was also killed, the Hamas statement said.

Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof its top leaders had survived.

Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf nation hosting thousands of American troops, has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas throughout the 22-month-old war and even before. It condemne

See Full Page