Israel has claimed responsibility for a rare strike inside Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Tuesday, targeting senior Hamas leaders based there since 2012. The operation, carried out in broad daylight, immediately drew sharp condemnation from Qatar and alarm across the region.
The Attack in Doha
Witnesses reported loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising above the city shortly after midday. Verified video showed heavy damage to a residential complex near Wadi Rawdan Street, close to the West Bay Lagoon district.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strike was “precise” and aimed at Hamas leaders they accuse of orchestrating the 7 October assault on Israel. Israeli media reported that 15 fighter jets released 10 guided munitions on the target.
Who Was Targeted?
Hamas confirmed that members of its Doha-based political delegation were the intended targets but survived the strike. The group said six others were killed, including Humam al-Hayya, son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, and a Qatari security officer.
Other casualties named by Hamas included:
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Jihad Labad, office director for Khalil al-Hayya
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Abdullah Abdul Wahid
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Moamen Hassouna
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Ahmed al-Mamluk
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Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi of Qatar’s internal security forces
“This crime proves Netanyahu’s government has no interest in reaching any agreement,” Hamas declared, calling the attack an attempt to sabotage ongoing mediation efforts.
Israel and U.S. Responses
Israeli officials insisted the operation was carried out independently. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office read.
The White House confirmed it was notified in advance due to the proximity of al-Udeid airbase, the largest U.S. military installation in the region. President Donald Trump, writing on Truth Social, distanced himself from the decision:
“This was not my call,” he wrote. “I was informed too late to stop it. Qatar is a close ally of the U.S., and I assured its leaders such an incident will not happen again.”
Trump also criticized Israel’s choice of location while defending the goal of dismantling Hamas.
Mediation Under Threat
Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political bureau for over a decade and has served as a key intermediary in ceasefire negotiations. Only days before the strike, Hamas acknowledged reviewing U.S.-backed proposals for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal.
Diplomatic observers say the targeted leaders were likely meeting to finalize their response. The U.S. plan reportedly involves a 60-day truce, release of remaining hostages in Gaza, and parallel talks on a lasting ceasefire.
Regional Reaction
Doha condemned the attack as a “reckless and cowardly violation” of its sovereignty and warned it would not tolerate further threats to its security.
The Qatari statement was echoed across the Arab world, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the strike as “a flagrant breach of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
What Comes Next?
The strike has left open questions about the future of peace negotiations, the safety of U.S. assets in Qatar, and Israel’s already strained relations with its Gulf neighbors. Analysts say the incident could further complicate efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and risks reshaping regional alliances at a delicate moment.
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