Israel has carried out its first military strike on Qatari soil, marking a historic escalation in the ongoing war with Hamas and triggering strong condemnation from Doha.
The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that the explosions in Doha, Qatar’s capital, were part of an operation targeting senior members of the Hamas leadership, including its negotiating team. According to Al Jazeera, the attack took place as Hamas officials convened to deliberate on a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said:
“The IDF and Shin Bet, through the Air Force, recently carried out a targeted attack on the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization… The leaders attacked were directly responsible for the October 7 massacre and for waging the war against Israel.”
The IDF added that it used precision-guided weapons and intelligence to minimize civilian casualties.
Qatar Condemns Strike
Qatar, which has served as a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations and hosts the region’s largest U.S. military installation, Al Udeid Air Base, reacted angrily to the strike.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari described the attack as a violation of international law and Qatari sovereignty.
“This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar,” the statement read.
Doha vowed that it “will not tolerate reckless Israeli behavior” and confirmed that high-level investigations are underway.
Background
The attack comes amid heightened global tensions over the war in Gaza. Earlier, the IDF announced the killing of Mahmoud al-Aswad, head of Hamas’ General Security Apparatus in West Gaza, describing him as a key intelligence source for the group.
The strike on Doha marks the first time Israel has directly targeted Hamas leaders on Qatari soil, further complicating international efforts to broker peace.
