US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in a conversation with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. A senior State Department official confirmed the dialogue between the two officials.
Qatar strongly condemned the killing of Haniyeh, labeling it a 'heinous crime' and a 'dangerous escalation.' Al Thani expressed concerns about the impact of political assassinations and the targeting of civilians in Gaza while peace talks are ongoing. He questioned the feasibility of successful mediation when one party resorts to assassinating negotiators on the other side.
Haniyeh, who was based in Qatar, led Hamas' political bureau from the country. The US Secretary of State, Blinken, emphasized that the United States had no prior knowledge of or involvement in the assassination of Haniyeh. He refrained from speculating on the potential repercussions of the killing.
