New Delhi, Oct. 4 -- When Israeli fighter jets fired missiles into a residential compound in Doha on 9 September, they were aiming at Hamas officials in the midst of delicate talks over a possible end to the Gaza war. The strike killed a Qatari security officer and the son of senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya - but missed its intended targets.

What followed, however, was not only diplomatic outrage but also a surprising shift in the peace process. Within 20 days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump were standing side by side at the White House, declaring support for a new framework to halt nearly two years of devastating conflict.

Trump described it with typical flourish: "a big, big day, a beautiful day, pote...