Disagreement within Israel! Why was Mossad against ground operation in Qatar to eliminate Hamas leadership? What forced Netanyahu?

The top leadership of Hamas was not harmed in the air strike.

New Delhi: The Israeli air strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha, not only failed to achieve its goal, but now this matter has also become the cause of deep controversy in Israel’s intelligence and political circles. In fact, Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad itself refused to carry out the ground operation, which it had prepared earlier. Mossad believed that this action could ruin the hostage-ceasefire talks and could also harm its relations with Qatar, which is currently playing an important role in mediating between Hamas and Israel. When Mossad refused to carry out the ground operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to launch an air strike on Qatar.

No top Hamas leader killed in Israeli air strike

Initial claims about the Israeli air strike in Doha on Tuesday were that ‘some big’ Hamas leader had been killed. But the picture became clear on Friday, September 12, when Hamas announced that its senior leader Khalil al-Haya was alive and attended the funeral of his son Hammam. This made it clear that the top leadership of Hamas was not harmed in the air strike.

Deep disagreement within Israel

According to Israeli media reports, there was deep disagreement within Israel’s security system over the timing and method of this operation.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Mossad chief David Barnea, and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi were against the attack on Qatar.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, acting head of Shin Bet (domestic security agency) and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer were in favour of launching an air strike on Qatar.

Nitzan Alon, who is leading the hostage negotiations, was not even invited to this meeting, as it was believed that he would oppose this action.

US’s and Qatar’s displeasure

According to reports, the attack was carried out by ballistic missiles fired by eight F-15 and four F-35 aircraft flying over the Red Sea. Israel informed the USA of the attack only minutes in advance, giving it no chance to respond. US President Donald Trump openly expressed displeasure over the action and said he was “extremely dissatisfied with the entire incident”.

Five people, including Al-Hayya’s son Hammam, were killed in the attack, including a Qatari security officer. This sparked outrage in Doha, and now Qatar has announced the convening of an emergency Arab-Islamic summit next week.

Questions on Mossad’s strategy and Netanyahu

Experts say that Mossad shied away from ground action in Doha. Mossad chief Barnea believed that attacking Qatar could prove fatal for Israel at the diplomatic level. The Hamas leadership has not appeared in public since the attack, while pro-Hamas sources claimed that al-Hayya and some other senior leaders may have been injured but not killed.

Israeli Air Force and Shin Bet cooperation

According to reports in the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, Mossad had planned a ground operation to assassinate Hamas leaders in recent weeks but refused to carry it out. Mossad chief David Barnea opposed the assassination operation in Qatar, as it could harm the agency’s relationship with Qatar. Instead, Israel opted for an airstrike, which was carried out by the Air Force in cooperation with the Shin Bet security service. Shin Bet is usually responsible for domestic security, while Mossad handles foreign operations.

According to a Channel 12 report, both the timing and method of the attack were controversial. Much of the Israeli defence establishment had advised against the attack because it could have harmed hostage-release and ceasefire talks. The attack has now sparked a sharp diplomatic response in Qatar.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mossad was against an air strike on Qatar to target Hamas leadership.
• The Israeli air strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha, failed to achieve its goal.
• Mossad itself refused to carry out the ground operation, which it had prepared earlier.
• Mossad believed that this action could ruin the hostage-ceasefire talks and could also harm its relations with Qatar.

Initial claims about the Israeli air strike in Doha on Tuesday were that ‘some big’ Hamas leader had been killed. But the picture became clear on Friday, September 12, when Hamas announced that its senior leader Khalil al-Haya was alive and attended the funeral of his son Hammam. This made it clear that the top leadership of Hamas was not harmed in the air strike.