US Senator Sanders says Netanyahu government 'completely out of control' following Doha attack

ISTANBUL

US Sen. Bernie Sanders said Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is "completely out of control" following Israeli strikes in Qatar's capital targeting the Palestinian group Hamas’ leadership.

"Not only are they starving children in Gaza, they are now breaking international law by dropping bombs on Qatar, a U.S. security partner," Sanders wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.

"When is enough, enough? NO MORE U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL," said the independent senator from Vermont.

Israel's military confirmed that it conducted a "precise strike targeting the senior leadership" of Hamas in Doha. Qatar strongly condemned the attack as a "blatant violation of international law" and a threat to its sovereignty and security.

The Gulf state, along with Egypt and the US, has been leading mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire agreement.

Hamas’ leadership survived the Israeli airstrike, a senior group leader confirmed Tuesday.

Suhail al-Hindi, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Al Jazeera television that the leadership survived a “cowardly assassination attempt.”

He said Hammam al-Hayya, the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, and his office director, Jihad Lubad, were killed in the attack along with several aides.

According to al-Hindi, the strike took place during a meeting of the group’s negotiating team to discuss a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire.

He added that Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin were among those who escaped the strike unharmed.

Al-Hindi stressed that Hamas holds both Israel and the US responsible for the attack on the Qatari capital.

Israel has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians in a brutal offensive in Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.