QATAR condemned a blatant “violation” of international law by Israel after Tel Aviv’s military attacked a meeting of Hamas leaders in the capital Doha today, killing at least two of them.

A senior Hamas official told reporters that Israel had targeted the movement’s negotiating team while they were discussing the ceasefire “ideas” put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said: “We condemn the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential quarters of several Hamas political bureau members.

“The criminal assault is a violation of all international laws” and Qatar “will not tolerate any action targeting its security or sovereignty.”

According to initial reports, political bureau head Khalil al-Hayya and financial officer Zaher Jabarin were killed in the strike.

Israeli Channel 11 reported that the Israeli attack had been co-ordinated with Washington.

The attack makes Qatar the ninth foreign target to be bombed by Israel since October 7 2023, following air strikes on occupied Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and international waters near Malta.

Israel struck hours after a humanitarian flotilla on its way to Gaza said one of its boats had been hit by what it believes was a drone while docked in Tunisia today. 

Tunisian authorities denied a drone was involved and said they were investigating a fire in a life jacket on the boat.

But the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement overnight that a vessel known as the Family Boat, sailing under a Portuguese flag, had been “struck by a drone,” but withough anyone aboard being hurt.

Footage posted on the group’s social media showed a flash of light landing on one of the boats and setting off what appears to be a fire.

The group, whose flotilla is scheduled to leave Tunisia tomorrow, said the incident would not derail its mission to deliver aid to Gaza.

The Israeli armed forces and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military ordered a full evacuation of Gaza City this morning, ahead of its planned expanded offensive in the northern city, where hundreds of thousands of people are in the grip of what many experts describe as an Israeli-created famine.

Dozens of Palestinians, including doctors and medical staff, took part in a protest in Gaza City rejecting the Israeli evacuation order.

“We will never leave our land. Healthcare workers won’t leave and we are calling for protection,” said Health Ministry general director Dr Muneer al-Boursh.