Israel attacked Doha, Qatar in 2025 to target senior Hamas leaders who were reportedly meeting to discuss a U.S.-proposed ceasefire amid the Gaza conflict. The strike aimed to disrupt Hamas’s leadership and negotiating power, targeting figures it holds responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians. It marked Israel’s first military operation on Qatari soil and was seen as a message rejecting the ceasefire talks.
On September 9, 2025, Israel executed a precision airstrike in Doha, Qatar.. This marked the first-ever Israeli military attack on Qatari soil a significant escalation in an already volatile Middle East conflict. The decision to strike Doha was driven primarily by tactical and strategic reasons, as Israeli officials sought to disrupt Hamas’s negotiating power amid ongoing ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar and the United States in the context of the Gaza war.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted key Hamas figures including Khalil al-Hayya (a senior Gaza leader and chief negotiator), Zaher Jabarin (responsible for West Bank operations), Muhammad Ismail Darwish (head of Hamas’s Shura Council), and Khaled Mashal (former leader of Hamas and head of its international branch). These figures were reportedly convening to consider a U.S.-proposed ceasefire package and prisoner-hostage exchange with Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strike as “fully justified,” asserting that these leaders were responsible for orchestrating the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israeli civilians, which ignited the widening Gaza conflict. Netanyahu declared that the era in which terror leaders could operate with impunity was over.
The strike involved 15 Israeli fighter jets dropping multiple bombs in rapid succession on the Leqtaifiya district of Doha, a well-guarded neighborhood hosting foreign embassies, international schools, and residential compounds. The IDF’s operation destroyed a Hamas compound used as its Political Bureau headquarters. The attack killed six individuals including al-Hayya’s son Humam, his office director Jihad Abu Labal, three bodyguards, and a Qatari security officer. Several senior Hamas leaders survived the strike, but the operation damaged a critical leadership hub at a delicate moment in diplomatic negotiations.
This strike was unprecedented for several reasons. Qatar, hosting the largest U.S. military base in the region (Al-Udeid Air Base) and acting as a major mediator in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, had never before been directly targeted by Israeli military force. The attack was seen by many in the Arab world and internationally as a blatant breach of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Qatar condemned the strike as “cowardly Israeli terrorism” and suspended its role in the ceasefire negotiations, calling for international accountability.
The strike’s timing was crucial. Hamas leaders in Doha were reportedly discussing a ceasefire proposal that could end hostilities and facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Israeli intelligence appeared to capitalize on this moment to disrupt these efforts, reflecting a strategic intent not only to diminish Hamas leadership operationally but also to sabotage diplomatic progress.
Geopolitically, the attack fits a pattern of escalating Israeli military actions beyond Gaza and Israel’s immediate borders. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out military operations or strikes in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and now Qatar. This widening scope underscores an Israeli campaign aimed at neutralizing what it views as external threats and support bases for Hamas and affiliated groups, regardless of national borders.
However, this expansion risks escalating regional tensions and destabilizing Gulf relations. Qatar, a key U.S. ally and economic hub, experienced significant political fallout. Several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, condemned the strike and reaffirmed solidarity with Qatar. The United Nations and European Union also condemned the strike, citing violations of sovereignty and calling for restraint.
Here is a table summarizing the key facts and figures surrounding Israel’s 2025 airstrike on Doha, Qatar:
| Category | Details |
| Date of Attack | September 9, 2025 |
| Location | Leqtaifiya district, Doha, Qatar |
| Target | Senior Hamas leadership (including Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, Muhammad Darwish, Khaled Mashal) |
| Purpose (Israeli Stance) | Disrupt Hamas leadership and negotiations; response to attacks on Israeli civilians |
| Aircraft Used | Approx. 15 Israeli fighter jets |
| Ammunition Used | Multiple bombs/missiles on Hamas Political Bureau compound |
| Casualties | 6 killed (al-Hayya’s son, office director, 3 bodyguards, 1 Qatari security official) |
| Hamas Leaders’ Fate | Senior leaders reportedly survived |
| Diplomatic Fallout | Ceasefire talks suspended by Qatar; widespread condemnation across Gulf & internationally |
| Qatari Role | Host to largest U.S. military base in region (Al-Udeid Air Base); key Gaza mediator |
| Countries Condemning | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, EU, UN, GCC, others |
| Broader Pattern | Part of Israeli strikes in 6+ countries since Oct 2023 (Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Qatar) |
| Legal/Diplomatic Status | Qatar calls strike a violation of sovereignty and international law |
Background
Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, the Gaza conflict has escalated with unprecedented casualties and destruction. Hamas’s deadly assault on Israeli territory triggered widespread Israeli military campaigns, including ground invasions and bombing. Qatar’s intervention as a diplomatic mediator seeking ceasefires and hostage releases put it in the spotlight as a crucial facilitator of peace efforts.
Israel has consistently argued that Hamas’s political and military leadership orchestrates terrorist attacks threatening Israeli citizens. It has intensified efforts to dismantle Hamas’s command structures, both inside Gaza and through external strikes. This led to increasing cross-border operations targeting Hamas-linked facilities and personnel in adjacent and allied countries.
Qatar’s unique position as both a diplomatic intermediary and the host of U.S. military assets complicated that status. Israel’s decision to strike inside Qatar appeared to send a message of resolve to Hamas leadership while daring global condemnation regarding sovereignty and international norms.
Israel’s Position: Justified Counterterrorism Operation
Israel officially defended the airstrike on Doha as a crucial counterterrorism measure targeting senior Hamas leaders accused of orchestrating deadly attacks against Israeli civilians, including the massacre on October 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that this operation marked the end of an era in which terror leaders could operate with impunity. Israeli defense officials described the strike as an operational opportunity to severely weaken Hamas’s negotiating capabilities and infrastructure, aiming to disrupt ongoing ceasefire discussions unfavorable to Israeli security interests.
Qatar’s Response: Strong Condemnation and Suspension of Negotiations
Qatar condemned the Israeli strike in the strongest terms, labeling it “cowardly” and a “flagrant violation of international law and sovereign rights.” The Qatari government viewed the attack as a breach of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, causing severe diplomatic repercussions. In protest, Qatar suspended its participation in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and vowed to pursue accountability through diplomatic and legal avenues. Doha’s leadership warned the strike could destabilize the region and undermine its crucial role as a mediator in seeking peace.
Saudi Arabia and GCC: Unwavering Solidarity and Calls for Accountability
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, united in condemning the attack as “despicable and cowardly.” The council stressed full solidarity with Qatar and emphasized the necessity of holding Israel accountable under international law to prevent further instability. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the strike as brutal aggression and underscored the dangers of ongoing Israeli transgressions. The GCC reinforced Gulf unity and cooperation, warning that violations of a member state’s sovereignty jeopardize the entire region’s security architecture.
United Nations: Condemnation and Call for Restraint
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and refocus efforts on a diplomatic ceasefire, warning against actions that escalate violence and undermine peace efforts. Guterres emphasized the critical role Qatar plays in mediation, and underscored the need for diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.
European Union: Concern and Appeal for Diplomatic Solutions
The EU expressed deep concern over Israel’s airstrike, with many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) condemning it as unlawful and dangerous for regional stability. The EU called for an immediate halt to hostilities and stressed the importance of respecting national sovereignty. European lawmakers emphasized the urgency of returning to diplomatic negotiations that include the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid, highlighting Qatar’s pivotal role in mediation.
Hamas: Denunciation and Claims of Survival
Hamas denounced the Israeli airstrike as a “heinous crime” and a “blatant act of aggression” aimed at sabotaging the fragile ceasefire negotiations. While mourning the death of key aides and family members of leadership, Hamas claimed that the core of its leadership survived the attack. The group accused Israel of deliberately undermining peace talks and sought to rally support by framing the strike as an attack on diplomatic processes.
United States: Delicate Balancing Act
The U.S. maintained a delicate position. While the White House denied prior knowledge of the specific timing of the strike, it confirmed efforts to coordinate humanitarian aid and diplomatic initiatives. Former President Donald Trump expressed unhappiness with the attack, distancing the U.S. from the decision, though affirming the goal of hostages being returned. The Biden administration emphasized the importance of ceasing violence, securing hostages’ release, and supporting diplomatic efforts, steering a cautious approach amidst complex bilateral relations.
Each stakeholder’s stance highlights the multifaceted diplomatic fallout and the heightened tensions resulting from Israel’s unprecedented military action within Qatar’s borders, complicating the already precarious Middle East peace landscape.
Israel’s 2025 airstrike on Doha, Qatar represents a profound escalation in the Gaza conflict, merging military action with geopolitical ramifications that reverberate beyond traditional borders. The strike aimed to cripple Hamas leadership amid critical ceasefire negotiations but elicited widespread condemnation for violating Qatar’s sovereignty and risking broader regional destabilization.
It highlights the complex interplay of military objectives, diplomatic mediation, and international law in one of the world’s most protracted and volatile conflicts. The attack further complicates peace efforts and raises pressing questions about respect for sovereign nations, the limits of counterterrorism, and the pathways toward durable conflict resolution in the Middle East.
Given the entrenched opposition and the high stakes, the fallout from this attack will continue shaping the region’s political landscape and influence international engagement for years to come.
