DOHA (Agencies) – Israel launched strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday, marking expansion of its military campaign across the Middle East to include the Gulf state where the Palestinian movement has long had its political base.
The strikes struck near Doha’s Legtifya petrol station, sending black plumes of smoke into the sky as ambulances, police and government vehicles surrounded the area. Eyewitnesses described explosions reverberating through the Qatari capital, with nearby residential compounds placed under heavy guard by Qatar’s Emiri Guard since the Gaza conflict began.
A Hamas official told Qatar's Al Jazeera that its top negotiator's son was among several people killed in Israeli strikes but that senior leaders survived.
"The Hamas leadership survived the cowardly assassination attempt," Hamas political official Suhail al-Hindi told the broadcaster, adding that negotiator Khalil al-Hayya's son and aide were among the dead.
QATAR’S PRIME MINISTER
Qatar’s prime minister has held the first official briefing about what happened, in which he called Israel’s attack “state terrorism” and said there is a rogue actor in the region – Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu – who is leading the region into chaos at an irreversible level.
He also talked about the timing of the attack… which coincided with a meeting of Hamas’s negotiating team discussing the US proposal for a deal to end the war on Gaza and reach a ceasefire deal, and said Israel had sabotaged that.
Sheikh Mohammed was asked if there was still room for diplomacy, and answered that after the attack, there was very little room left.
Commenting on the US’s role, whether the Israelis informed the Americans, the prime minister said American officials contacted Qatari officials 10 minutes after the attack.
He said the country was unable to thwart it because the drones were undetectable by the radar.
WHITE HOUSE’S REACTION
President Donald Trump believes Israel's strike on Hamas targets in Qatar was unfortunate and he directed a top aide, Steve Witkoff, to warn Qatar the attack was coming, the White House said on Tuesday.
Trump spoke to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar after the strikes, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
He assured the Qatari leader that "such a thing will not happen again on their soil."
Strike aimed at Hamas negotiators
Israeli officials said the attack targeted senior Hamas figures, including Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s exiled Gaza chief and lead negotiator. Two Hamas sources confirmed that members of the delegation survived. The strike coincided with negotiations over a US proposal for a ceasefire, scheduled to be discussed in Doha.
Who is Khalil Al-Hayya, the top Hamas figure targeted by Israel?
The move came hours after Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting in Jerusalem that killed six people. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later declared: “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel issued new evacuation orders for residents of Gaza City, warning of a massive offensive intended to crush Hamas’ remaining strongholds. Displaced families, including cancer patients, described being trapped with nowhere to go.
Regional and global condemnations
The attack on Qatar prompted swift international reaction:
Qatar: Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari called the strike a “cowardly Israeli attack” and a violation of all international norms.
United Arab Emirates: Described the attack as “blatant and cowardly,” with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan declaring “full solidarity with Qatar.”
Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned a “criminal act” and expressed “full solidarity” with Doha.
Egypt: Branded the attack “an unacceptable development” targeting mediation efforts.
Lebanon: President Joseph Aoun called it part of “Israel’s attempts to destabilise the region.”
Turkey: Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “state terrorism” and undermining peace talks.
Iraq: Denounced the “cowardly act” as a flagrant violation of sovereignty.
Yemen’s Houthis: Blamed both Israel and the US, calling the attack a “deliberate assassination attempt.”
United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike, stressing the need to work for a permanent ceasefire “not destroying it.”
The Vatican: Pope Leo XIV described the assault as “really serious,” urging prayers and renewed diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the attack “unlawful and heinous,” expressing solidarity with Qatar and Palestine.
Arab League: Secretary-General Ahmed Abou Gheit said the strike violated Qatar’s sovereignty.
United Kingdom: While calling Hamas a “vile terrorist organisation,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said London had no forewarning and urged de-escalation.
Spain: Barred two Israeli ministers from entry, formalised an arms embargo on Israel, and prohibited ships carrying Israeli military fuel from Spanish ports.
US foreknowledge and muted response
Reports suggested that US officials had some advance knowledge of the strike but did not confirm whether Washington approved. Pentagon officials deferred questions to the White House, which offered no immediate comment. Congressional leaders appeared caught off guard, with House Speaker Mike Johnson admitting, “We’ll have to reserve judgement.”
The US Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place order for staff and American citizens, highlighting the volatility of the situation.
Widening conflict
Israel has killed several Hamas leaders since the group’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. The war has since spread regionally, with Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian-linked forces in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen, and even Iranian territory.
The assault on Doha marks the second time Qatar has been directly attacked during the conflict. The nation, home to the US military’s Al-Udeid Air Base, previously came under fire during the Iran-Israel confrontation in 2024.