Overview

• Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, speaking to Al Jazeera, criticized last week’s strike in Qatar that targeted Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and killed his wife and son, saying he is sorry for their deaths.
• Olmert said senior Israeli officials “need to be tried for their crimes,” asserting that the orders given in the operation crossed legal and moral lines.
• He contended the attack’s timing was wrong because negotiations were underway to secure the release of hostages and that freeing captives should take priority.
• Olmert said the operation should not have been carried out on Qatari soil, argued it violated Qatar’s sovereignty, and noted Israel relies on Qatar’s services for talks with Hamas.
• He also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of long-standing ties with Qatar and aiding Hamas financially, declared he is working to unseat him, and drew a sharp rebuke from Likud minister Miki Zohar.