Israel has launched an airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha, targeting senior Hamas leaders in what marks the first Israeli attack on Qatari soil.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces struck a residential area in Doha, triggering six powerful simultaneous explosions, according to local media. Witnesses reported heavy smoke billowing over the city.
The strike occurred in a quiet neighbourhood surrounded by several foreign embassies. Al Jazeera reported heightened panic among residents, quoting a source saying: “Qatar is known around the world for the level of security that people here enjoy.”
“The explosions were heard ringing out across the city… There are a lot of very nervous, very worried people across this country as we speak,” Al Jazeera added.
This marks Israel’s first-ever attack in Qatar, a country serving as a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and home to the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base.
Israel has intensified its military operations across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, while also conducting near-daily raids in the occupied West Bank.
A senior Hamas source told Al Jazeera that its delegation survived the strike, while Qatar immediately condemned the attack. The airstrike took place as negotiators were considering a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the strike, revealing that it was carried out jointly with the Shin Bet intelligence agency: “recently carried out a targeted attack on the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.”
“The members of the leadership who were attacked led the terrorist organization’s activities for years, and are directly responsible for carrying out the October 7 massacre and waging the war against the State of Israel,” the statement added.
The military insisted that “steps were taken to minimize harm to uninvolved people, including the use of precision weapons and additional intelligence information.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also issued a statement asserting full responsibility for the strike: “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Qatar Condemns ‘Criminal Attack’
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the bombing in the strongest terms. In a statement, spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the strike targeted residential buildings housing Hamas political bureau members:
“This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar,” the statement read.
Qatar vowed not to tolerate “reckless Israeli behavior” that threatens its sovereignty and regional stability. It confirmed that high-level investigations were underway and further details would be disclosed soon.
Later, Qatar’s Interior Ministry assured the public that the situation in Doha was under control and specialised teams were deployed to manage the aftermath.
UN Condemns ‘Flagrant Violation’
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined the condemnation, describing the attack as a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar.”
He praised Qatar’s role in mediating ceasefire negotiations and urged all parties to work towards ending hostilities: “All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”
