The Israeli military has carried out airstrikes on a residential area in Doha, the capital of Qatar, marking the first such attack on the Gulf nation.
According to local media, six powerful explosions rocked the city on Tuesday, sending smoke across the skyline and causing panic in neighborhoods that host several foreign embassies. The strikes reportedly targeted senior Hamas leaders.
“This is a city known for its high level of security, but people here are deeply shaken,” Al Jazeera reported.
Qatar, which serves as a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and hosts the U.S. military’s largest regional base at Al Udeid Air Base, swiftly condemned the attack as a “criminal act.”
A senior Hamas source told Al Jazeera that the targeted delegation survived. The strike occurred as negotiators were reviewing the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal.
In a joint statement, the Israeli military and Shin Bet intelligence service said the operation was a “targeted attack” on Hamas’s top leadership, who were described as “directly responsible” for the October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel. Israel emphasized that it acted independently and used “precision weapons” to minimize civilian casualties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reinforced that Israel “initiated, conducted, and takes full responsibility” for the strike.
Qatar Responds
Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law and Qatar’s sovereignty.”
“This criminal act constitutes a serious threat to the safety of Qataris and residents,” the statement read, warning that Doha would not tolerate Israel’s “reckless behavior.” Investigations, it added, were underway at the highest levels.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry later assured residents that the situation in Doha was under control, with specialized teams deployed to the affected area.
UN Reaction
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the airstrikes, calling them a “flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He praised Qatar’s role in mediation efforts and urged all parties to work toward a permanent ceasefire rather than undermining negotiations.
