After Israel on Tuesday carried out airstrikes targeting Hamas leadership in the Qatari capital city Doha, family members of hostages held by terror groups in the Gaza Strip expressed anger, fear and despair over the future of negotiations to bring their loved ones home and end the war.

The strike targeted top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the terror group’s exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator. It took place while the leadership of Hamas was discussing the new US ceasefire proposal that Israel said it agreed to Tuesday, according to the Palestinian terrorist organization.

An Israeli official said that Israel was increasingly optimistic that they were killed, though Hamas sources claimed the top officials survived the attack.

In the wake of the attacks, initial reports said that Qatar informed Israel and the US that it would no longer serve as a mediator for Jerusalem, thereby suspending the talks entirely. Hours later, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that his country will remain in the role, despite the “treacherous” attack.

The Hostages and........

© The Times of Israel