On September 9, 2025, Israel executed an unprecedented airstrike targeting senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, escalating the ongoing Middle East conflict and eliciting swift international condemnation. The strike, which occurred in the Leqtaifiya district, hit a residential compound that served as Hamas’s political bureau headquarters, where negotiators were reportedly engaged in discussions regarding a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, reports 24brussels.
Israeli officials stated that the operation involved around a dozen warplanes deploying multiple precision bombs aimed directly at Hamas leaders implicated in the October 7 attacks on Israel. The Israeli military and Shin Bet intelligence agency confirmed responsibility for the assault, branding it a meticulous operation intended to incapacitate pivotal Hamas figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took complete responsibility for the mission, labeling it a fully Israeli operation.
Hamas Reaction and Casualties
Hamas reported that its negotiating team survived the assault; however, six individuals were killed, including prominent Hamas figures Jihad Lubad, director of Khalil al-Hayya’s office, and Hammam al-Hayya, Khalil’s son. The fatalities also included their bodyguards and a Qatari security officer. Hamas condemned the strike as an assassination attempt and a breach of international law, insisting it would not alter their essential demands for a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, and prisoner exchanges.
United Nations Response
The attack on Qatari soil, where the U.S. regional headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base is located and which plays a crucial mediating role in ceasefire negotiations, sparked widespread international outrage. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the assault as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and called for restraint to safeguard peace initiatives.
GCC and Arab Nations Condemn
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rebuked the airstrike as “despicable and cowardly,” emphasizing its contravention of international laws and treaties. The GCC expressed solidarity with Qatar and urged the global community to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
European Leaders React
European leaders voiced strong condemnation of the attack. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserted that the strike violated Qatar’s sovereignty and posed a risk for further regional escalation. French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the attack as “unacceptable,” reaffirming support for Qatar and cautioning against war proliferation. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan deemed the airstrike a violation of international law, offering support to both Qatar and Palestine.
Pakistan Voices Outrage
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled the airstrike “unlawful and heinous,” expressing solidarity with both Qatar and Palestine. Other Arab nations, including Algeria and Mauritania, echoed strong condemnations and raised concerns regarding regional security.
U.S. Expresses Discontent
U.S. President Donald Trump conveyed his displeasure with the operation, stating it undermines peace efforts and threatens relations with ally Qatar. The White House confirmed that U.S. officials had limited warning before the attack, reiterating that it does not advance U.S. or Israeli interests.
The Qatari government denounced the airstrike as an act of state terrorism and promptly halted its engagement in ceasefire discussions. This incident has further strained tensions across the Middle East, bringing to light the precarious state of regional peace initiatives and underscoring the pressing need for renewed diplomatic engagement to avert further conflict escalation.
This strike represents a pivotal moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict, extending military operations into previously untouched territory and illustrating the complexities of aligning military strategies with ongoing peace negotiations. As the global community reacts, attention remains focused on diplomatic avenues aimed at restoring stability and upholding sovereignty in a notably volatile regional landscape.
