Israel’s strike on Doha shattered the illusion that Hamas’s leaders could hide safely behind Gulf skylines. But a look further back shows this immunity had gaps.

The Mossad’s botched 1997 attempt to kill Khaled Meshaal in Jordan and the 2010 assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai had already shown Israel’s long arm. However, what is striking is not Israel’s reach or boldness, but the folly of Arab states that continue to shelter and facilitate a movement that has brought them nothing but ruin. Hamas has exported conflict and invited chaos into these states. The correct lesson for Arab states to learn from the Doha airstrike is that none of them should welcome Hamas onto their soil.

A course correction can take the form of expelling Hamas and delegitimizing it.

Jordan previously had hosted Hamas since 1992, using the group as a tool to antagonize Amman’s long-time rival Yasser Arafat. During its time in Jordan, Hamas exploited its sanctuary to facilitate terror operations in Israel. However, Amman’s calculus shifted after Israel’s failed assassination attempt on Meshaal. Harboring Hamas brought more danger than benefit, and two years later, the Kingdom

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