Qatar pledged all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security after Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas leaders occurred on September 9th 2025 in Doha, killing six individuals including Khalil al-Hayya’s son and a Qatari security officer; some Hamas leaders managed to escape death in this attack but it caused widespread condemnation and raised serious regional stability concerns.
Details of the Attack
Israeli fighter jets conducted an airstrike against a residential compound in Leqtaifiya district of Doha that housed Hamas leaders who were meeting to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. The strike caused significant damage to the compound and six deaths; Hamas confirmed its senior leadership survived but condemned the attack as a deliberate attempt at disrupting peace negotiations.
Qatar’s Reaction
Responding to Israel’s attacks, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani condemned them as an act of state terrorism and asserted that Qatar reserves its right to respond by taking all necessary steps to defend itself and defend its security and sovereignty. Additionally, he asked for a coordinated regional response against this Israeli action.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, reiterated the country’s commitment to its sovereignty during a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing all measures being taken by Qatar to maintain security and sovereignty despite Israeli attacks that appear “blatant”. Additionally, he made clear that any violation to sovereignty, territorial integrity or security would not be tolerated – Anadolu Ajansi reported.
Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
International Reactions
The Israeli airstrike on Qatar prompted strong reactions from various nations and international organizations. Antonio Guterres of the UN strongly condemned it as an attack against Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on all parties involved to prioritize a lasting ceasefire instead of further intensifying conflict.
President Donald Trump voiced his displeasure with Israel’s action against Qatar, labelling it as unfortunate and notifying Qatar prior to an attack that they claim they weren’t informed about until it had already started. Qatari officials counter that they weren’t informed until after it began.
Regional powers have also expressed their displeasure with Israel’s strike, condemning it as an attack that violated Qatari sovereignty and called on the international community to put an end to Israel’s violations. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned it as violating international law and Qatari sovereignty – accusing Israel of fomenting regional conflict and instability through such attacks. Reuters
Implications of Peace Efforts
Israeli airstrike complicates efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, an area engulfed in conflict for nearly two years. The attack has fractured relationships among various Arab states as well as raised worries of wider regional instability; Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas mediation efforts has indicated it may hinder future negotiations as a result of this attack. (AP News).
Conclusion
Israel’s airstrike against Doha represents a significant escalation in their ongoing conflict with Hamas, raising serious questions over legality and effectiveness. With regional tensions continuing to escalate, international communities face the task of addressing root issues driving conflict while working towards sustainable peace agreements.