Israel’s military confirmed a strike on Tuesday, an announcement that came shortly after witnesses in the Qatari capital reported several explosions and observed smoke rising from the northern part of the city center.
If this is confirmed, it would mark the first instance of Israel conducting a military strike in a U.S. ally, a nation that has provided a base for the group’s political bureau since 2012.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement asserting that they had carried out “a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” whose base is in Doha.
The statement further indicated that “measures were implemented prior to the strike to mitigate civilian harm, including the deployment of precise munitions and reliance on additional intelligence.”
After the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel acted unilaterally in the operation. He declared, “Today’s action against the leading terrorist commanders of Hamas was an entirely independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel executed it, and Israel bears full responsibility,” as conveyed by a message from the Prime Minister’s office on X.
Qatar’s Al Jazeera television, referencing a Hamas source, reported that the attack targeted Hamas negotiators involved in Gaza ceasefire talks.
Under an agreement with the United States, Qatar has provided refuge to members of Hamas’ political wing since 2012. Nevertheless, in November 2024, demands emerged for Qatar to expel the militant group’s political faction from the nation. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry affirmed that the offices would stay open, even though negotiations between Israel and Hamas were temporarily suspended at that time.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as “cowardly,” further stating that it hit residential buildings as well as Hamas offices.
Spokesperson Al Ansari commented, “This criminal assault constitutes a flagrant breach of all international laws and norms, and poses a grave threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” adding that Qatar “will not tolerate this irresponsible Israeli behavior.”
The United Arab Emirates likewise condemned what it referred to as a “treacherous” attack carried out by Israel. A senior UAE diplomatic advisor remarked, “We stand wholeheartedly with the sisterly State of Qatar…affirming our full solidarity with it in confronting this aggression.”
The U.S. embassy in Doha confirmed it had received reports of the missile strikes and had “instituted a shelter-in-place order for its facilities,” recommending that U.S. citizens in Qatar remain indoors and monitor the embassy’s communication updates.
