The most curious fact of the Israeli assassination attempt of Hamas leaders in Doha is that its usual agency for foreign intelligence and special operations, Mossad, not only took no part in it but reportedly opposed it.
"The Mossad spy agency even declined to carry out a ground operation it had itself drawn up in recent weeks to assassinate the Hamas leaders, forcing the adoption of an air strike, two Israelis familiar with the matter told The Washington Post on Friday.
Mossad chief Barnea opposed killing the leaders in Qatar due to the spy agency’s relationship with Doha as well as its role as a mediator in talks with Hamas, the sources said."
Israeli media report of conflicts within the upper echelons of Israeli security leadership, as several of the top chiefs doubted the operation:
"[Israeli] Channel 12 reported that the plan was opposed by IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir, Mossad chief David Barnea and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. It said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, acting Shin Bet chief known as “Mem,” and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer were in favor of the attack."
As a result, it was executed by the IDF with intelligence from Shin Bet – Israel's internal security agency.
