The Israeli military carried out what it described as a “precise strike” on Hamas leadership in Doha on Tuesday, reportedly signaling a widening front in its campaign against the group responsible for the October 7 massacre.
“The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and ISA [Israeli Security Agency] conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the military said in a statement.
“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.”
Several explosions rocked Doha, according to local media, prompting immediate condemnation from Qatar.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the strike targeted residences used by “a number of members of Hamas’ political bureau.” Spokesman Majed al-Ansari accused Israel of violating international law and endangering “the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
Israel emphasized that it had taken precautions to limit civilian casualties. Officials said measures included “the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office underscored that the operation was “wholly independent” and that Israel “takes full responsibility.”
⚡️The moment the Israeli airstrikes on Doha, Qatar, took place pic.twitter.com/Du17Fyr2HH
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) September 9, 2025
The strike comes amid rising tensions. Just hours earlier, six Israelis were murdered in Jerusalem by two Palestinian attackers in what Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) described as a brutal terrorist assault. “Today, there’s news, six people were killed in a bus in Jerusalem by Hamas, and Israel responded by hitting Hamas in Doha, Qatar, which is a fairly extraordinary event,” McCaul said Tuesday. Hamas praised the Jerusalem attack, though it did not claim responsibility.
Netanyahu, alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, said that following the Jerusalem killings, “the prime minister instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of targeting Hamas leaders.” After consultations, “the directive given last night to the IDF and the Shin Bet” was executed “with precision and effectiveness,” the statement read.
Qatar has long hosted Hamas’s exiled leadership and has served as a mediator in the conflict. Following the strike, Qatari officials announced they would suspend mediation efforts with Israel, according to Reuters. On Monday, just before the attack, Qatar’s prime minister met with Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Doha.
The move drew swift criticism from international bodies. UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced what he called “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar,” arguing that Doha had “been playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and release of all hostages.”
The United States also reacted cautiously. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place order for its facilities, warning American citizens in the country to monitor embassy communications for updates.
President Donald Trump, who has sought to position himself as a broker of peace, issued a warning to Hamas days before the strike. “Everyone wants the Hostages HOME.
“Everyone wants this War to end!” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”
For Israel, the strike in Doha underscored its determination to target Hamas leaders wherever they reside. For Washington, Doha, and the United Nations, it raised alarm about escalation. But in Jerusalem, it signaled a message that after the killings of October 7 and the latest stabbing attack, the campaign against Hamas is far from over.
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