Israel struck Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, in a rare cross-border assault that killed five Hamas officials, including the son of senior figure Khalil al-Hayya. A Qatari security officer also died in the attack, which has triggered swift international condemnation and raised tensions across the Middle East.
Israel’s decision to carry out a strike deep inside Doha, the capital of Qatar, has triggered a cascade of condemnation, drawing sharp rebukes not only from Arab states but also from the United Nations. The attack, aimed at Hamas officials housed in the city, marked the first time Israel has extended its military operations into Qatari territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the strike on Tuesday, describing it as a targeted action against Hamas leadership. But the move has rattled the region. Qatar — long a mediator in ceasefire talks and host to the sprawling Al Udeid airbase, the United States’ largest military installation in the Gulf — branded the operation a “cowardly Israeli attack.”
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the air raids amounted to a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and urged all parties in the Gaza conflict to pursue a permanent ceasefire instead of undermining prospects for one.
From Riyadh, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced what it called “brutal Israeli aggression,” warning of “grave consequences” if such violations of international law continue. Turkey’s foreign ministry echoed that sentiment, arguing that the strike revealed Israel had no genuine interest in ceasefire negotiations, only in prolonging the war.
The United Arab Emirates joined in, calling the attack “treacherous.” Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, underscored that “the security of the Arab Gulf states is indivisible,” affirming Abu Dhabi’s full solidarity with Doha.
Israel’s strike on Doha is the first recorded assault on Qatari soil in the country’s modern history.