DOHA – In a significant escalation of the ongoing Israeli aggressions, Israel launched a targeted airstrike on Hamas leadership in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on September 9, 2025.
The attack, which occurred in a residential area, killed six people, including a Qatari security officer and five Hamas members, though the group’s senior negotiators reportedly survived.
Qatar’s government condemned the strike as a “cowardly” and “blatant violation of international law,” emphasizing that it undermined the nation’s sovereignty and mediation efforts in the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating it aimed to eliminate senior Hamas figures, including Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, calling it a “surgical, precision” response to recent Hamas-led attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza.
The White House revealed that the U.S. was notified of the operation beforehand but expressed disapproval, noting that the action “does not advance Israel or America’s goals”.
US President Donald Trump later spoke with Netanyahu and Qatari leaders, emphasizing that eliminating Hamas remained a “worthy goal” while acknowledging the incident’s complications for regional diplomacy.
The strike has drawn widespread international condemnation, with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the UAE, and the UN among those criticizing Israel’s violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.
Hamas says, Israel and the U.S.A. sabotaging ceasefire negotiations, stating the attack confirmed Netanyahu’s unwillingness to pursue peace.
The incident threatens to derail ongoing U.S.-backed ceasefire talks, which had recently gained momentum with Trump’s “last warning” to Hamas to accept a proposed deal.
As regional tensions escalate, the strike underscores the fragility of diplomatic efforts and the expanding scope of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC