Israel has, for the first time in two years of the Palestine war, attacked Qatar, the country mediating the ceasefire.
On September 9, Israel carried out an airstrike on Doha, the capital of Qatar, targeting Hamas.
According to foreign media, explosions and smoke erupted in Doha’s Katara district, and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a residential building where Hamas political bureau members lived had been hit. Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that the operation was codenamed “Top of Fire”, with fighter jets and drones dropping ten bombs on a target more than 1,800 km away from Israel.
Immediately after the explosions, the Israeli military issued a statement confirming the strike, saying, “The army and Shin Bet conducted a precision strike targeting senior leaders of the Hamas terrorist organization,” It added that operations would continue “to defeat the Hamas terrorist group.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending an event at the U.S. Embassy in Israel that day, said, “After our citizens were brutally murdered at a Jerusalem bus stop yesterday, I instructed officials to stop the murderers in Hamas leadership,” pressing Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the operation had been planned for months.
Al Jazeera reported that the attack took place while Hamas’s ceasefire negotiating delegation was meeting to discuss a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump. Saudi outlet Al Arabiya reported that Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau leading the delegation, and senior official Zaher Jabarin were presumed dead, while Khaled Meshaal was also said to have been present at the meeting.
In contrast, Hamas stated that only al-Hayya’s son, his aide, and three others were killed, claiming that “the enemy’s attempt to assassinate the negotiation delegation has failed.” Hamas also reported that one Qatari military officer was killed.
Since 2012, Hamas has operated its political bureau office in Doha, which has effectively served as its headquarters during the war. Qatar is known to have close ties with Hamas and other armed groups in the region.
The Jerusalem Post reported, citing Israeli officials, that “U.S. officials were aware of the operation against Hamas leadership and gave the ‘green light.’”
In response, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declared, “Today’s action targeting Hamas’s top terrorist leaders was entirely an independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, carried it out, and will take responsibility for it.”
The White House stated that it had been informed in advance of the strike plan but commented, “A unilateral bombing inside Qatar does not advance the goals of either Israel or the United States.”
Following the attack, Qatar informed the U.S. that it would temporarily suspend its mediation of ceasefire talks in Gaza and warned of security risks.
In a statement, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We strongly condemn Israel’s cowardly attack. This criminal act blatantly violates international law and norms, and poses a grave threat to Qatar’s security. Reckless actions that destabilize regional security and infringe upon Qatar’s sovereignty and security will not be tolerated.”
Neighboring Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with the Arab League, also issued condemnation statements.
Egypt, which mediates the Gaza ceasefire alongside Qatar, issued a presidential statement saying: “This attack is a violation of international law and is strongly condemned. It is a dangerous precedent and an unacceptable development.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, at a press briefing, said: “Israel attacked Qatar, which has played a positive role in ceasefire and hostage release efforts. This is a clear violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we strongly condemn.”
