Smoke rises over Doha’s Leqtaifiya district after Israel’s unprecedented airstrike targeting Hamas leadership, sparking global outrage and geopolitical shockwaves.
Unprecedented Strike Rocks Doha, Triggers Global Condemnation
On September 9, 2025, Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike targeting senior Hamas leadership in Qatar’s capital, Doha, marking the first time Israel has conducted military operations on Qatari soil. The attack, codenamed “Operation Summit of Fire” (Atzeret HaDin in Hebrew), involved 15 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropping 10 precision-guided munitions on a residential compound in the Leqtaifiya district, approximately 1,800 kilometers from Israel.
The strike occurred at 3:46 PM local time as Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting to formulate their response to a new US-brokered ceasefire proposal presented by President Donald Trump. The targeted Hamas leadership team included Khalil al-Hayya (Hamas Gaza chief and lead negotiator), Khaled Mashal (former overall Hamas leader), Zaher Jabarin (West Bank operations chief), and Muhammad Ismail Darwish (head of Hamas’s Shura Council).
Casualties and Immediate Impact
Hamas confirmed that six people were killed in the attack, though the organization claimed its senior leadership survived. The casualties included:
Hamas Members Killed:
- Humam al-Hayya, son of Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya
- Jihad Labad Abu Bilal, al-Hayya’s office director
- Three bodyguards: Abdullah Abu Khalil, Moamen Abu Omar, and Ahmad Abu Malek
Qatari Casualty:
The strike caused significant damage to the residential compound that served as Hamas’s political bureau headquarters, with surveillance footage capturing the moment of impact as black smoke billowed into the Doha skyline.
Global Diplomatic Backlash and International Response
The attack triggered an unprecedented wave of international condemnation, with Qatar immediately denouncing it as a “cowardly Israeli attack” and a “blatant violation of international law”. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani warned that Qatar “reserves the right to respond” and declared the nation would “not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior”.
United Nations Response
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that all parties should focus on achieving a permanent ceasefire rather than “destroying it”. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on September 10, requested by Algeria and Pakistan, to address the crisis.
Regional Arab Response
Saudi Arabia issued one of the strongest condemnations, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally calling Qatar’s Emir to offer “full solidarity” and pledge “all capabilities” to support Qatar’s security. The Kingdom warned of “dire consequences” from Israel’s “criminal violations” of international law.
United Arab Emirates, despite maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel, condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” calling it a “blatant and cowardly” violation that risks regional stability.
Iran characterized the strike as a “dangerous act” and “gross violation” of international law, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warning it undermines regional security.
Other condemning nations included Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Sudan, Algeria, Mauritania, Pakistan, Malaysia, and the Maldives.
European Response
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strikes as violations of Qatar’s sovereignty, calling for an immediate ceasefire. France President Emmanuel Macron termed the attack “unacceptable,” while Germany Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock deemed it a violation that risks hostage release efforts. Spain and Italy also issued strong condemnations.
United States Position: Trump Distances Himself
US President Donald Trump publicly distanced himself from the operation, clarifying on Truth Social: “This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me”. Trump criticized the unilateral strike in a “Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States,” stating it “does not advance Israel or America’s goals”.
Despite this criticism, a White House official confirmed the US was informed in advance, though Qatar denied receiving prior warning, stating the US notification came “during the sound of explosions”. Trump later assured Qatar’s leadership that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil”.
Qatar’s Strategic Dilemma
The attack placed Qatar in an unprecedented position as both a key US ally hosting the Al Udeid airbase (America’s largest Middle East military installation) and a Hamas political patron since 2012. Qatar has facilitated over $1.8 billion in transfers to Hamas over the years, originally at US and Israeli request to maintain communication channels with the organization.
Qatar’s role as mediator between Israel and Hamas has been crucial in previous ceasefire negotiations, including the November 2023 agreement that secured the release of over 100 Israeli hostages. The attack threatens to end Qatar’s mediation efforts, with diplomatic sources indicating Qatar temporarily considered halting its mediating role before US pressure convinced them otherwise.
Netanyahu’s Justification and Israeli Strategy
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation as “fully justified,” claiming it targeted leaders “directly responsible for carrying out the October 7 massacre”. The decision came after Hamas claimed responsibility for a Jerusalem shooting that killed six Israelis at a bus stop on September 8.
Israeli officials described months of preparation for the “historic operation,” with classified battle procedures initiated by the IDF Operations Directorate and weekly coordination meetings between Shin Bet, Military Intelligence, and Operations leadership. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated: “The era in which terror leaders operate with impunity is over”.
Implications for Ceasefire Negotiations
The strike occurred at a critical juncture in US-mediated peace efforts. Hamas had announced readiness to “immediately sit at the negotiating table” after receiving American ceasefire proposals envisioning the release of 48 remaining hostages within 48 hours of a 60-day truce. The attack effectively derailed these negotiations, with experts warning it signals Israel’s disinterest in diplomatic solutions.
Frank Lowenstein, former US special envoy for the Middle East, characterized the strike as evidence that Israel had “lost interest in negotiating a ceasefire” and was confident enough that negotiations would become “irrelevant” to proceed with assassinating the Hamas negotiating team.
Historical Context and Legal Implications
This marks the first Israeli attack on Qatar and represents a significant escalation in the regional conflict. Legal experts argue that Israel cannot justify the strike under international law’s self-defense provisions, particularly given the restrictive standards for proportionality and necessity when targeting non-state actors in third-party nations.
The attack has drawn comparisons to Israel’s broader regional military campaign, which has expanded from Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, and now Qatar, fundamentally altering Middle East security dynamics.
Fact-Check Summary
Verified Facts:
- Israel conducted its first military strike on Qatar on September 9, 2025
- 15 fighter jets dropped 10 munitions on Hamas compound in Doha’s Leqtaifiya district
- Six confirmed deaths: 5 Hamas members (including al-Hayya’s son) and 1 Qatari officer
- Operation codenamed “Summit of Fire” after months of preparation
- Strike occurred during Hamas meeting on US ceasefire proposal
- Qatar formally protested to UN Security Council and requested emergency session
Official Sources:
- Israeli Defense Forces and Shin Bet confirmed the operation
- Hamas acknowledged casualties but claimed leadership survived
- Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued formal condemnations
- Multiple government confirmations from over 20 nations condemning the attack
- UN Secretary-General official statement
- US President Trump’s Truth Social clarification
The September 9, 2025 Israeli strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar represents a pivotal moment that has fundamentally altered regional diplomatic relationships, jeopardized ceasefire negotiations, and triggered the most significant international crisis involving Israel since the Gaza war began. The attack’s repercussions continue to reverberate across global diplomatic channels, with lasting implications for Middle East stability and US-Qatar relations.
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