Israel Accused Of State Terrorism In Deadly Attack On Qatar’s Capital, Doha

Qatar denounces Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha as an act of “state terrorism,” following a series of explosions that resulted in six fatalities and dashed hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza. As a mediator in the ongoing conflict, Qatar plays a pivotal role, hosting both Hamas leaders in exile and thousands of US troops at its largest air base for American forces in the Middle East.

The attack came without prior warning, targeting a residential area in Doha where schools, nurseries, embassies, and homes are located. According to Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, “This can only be described as state terrorism.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of wanting to change the Middle East, with Al Thani questioning whether this desire extends to the Gulf region. Hamas reported that the attack claimed the life of Khalil al-Heyya’s son, a senior negotiator, and five other lower-ranking members of the organization, as well as a Qatari security officer. It remains unconfirmed whether Israel’s intended targets were among the casualties.

Hamas denounced the attack, stating it reveals the criminal nature of the occupation and its efforts to undermine peace negotiations. Some Israeli officials acknowledge that the strikes may not have targeted their primary objectives, with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter commenting, “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them next time.”

The Israeli Defense Ministry reported that Israel’s air force dropped over ten munitions during the attack on Qatar. Netanyahu defended the operation at a US Embassy event in Jerusalem, arguing that terrorist leaders should no longer enjoy immunity anywhere. He referenced the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities, according to Israeli officials.

Netanyahu oversaw the execution of the Doha operation with senior military and domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, following months of planning. The airstrikes reportedly caught Qatari political and military leadership off guard, with Israeli aircraft using advanced technology to evade radar systems.

President Trump expressed his displeasure about Israel’s unilateral decision to bomb Qatar but emphasized the importance of eliminating Hamas. He called the Qatari Emir to offer reassurances that the US was not involved in the attack and had not been informed ahead of time. Al Thani stated that the attack was aimed at Hamas’ negotiating team as they were studying a new US proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, but Israel has consistently worked to sabotage peace efforts.

The war in Gaza since has claimed over 64,000 lives, with a third of them being children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Efforts to end the nearly two-year-long conflict and free remaining Israeli hostages have been thrown into jeopardy following Israel’s attack on Qatar. The future role of Qatar in the ongoing negotiations remains uncertain, with Al Thani refusing to commit to a continued involvement after the attack. The families of the 48 captives still held within the Palestinian territory, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, now face an increased uncertainty regarding their return.

The role of the Qatari government in the on-again-off-again negotiations between Israel and Hamas has been significant, alongside Egypt. If authorities in Doha were not informed in advance of the strike, it would mark a significant deviation from past practices. Michael Koplow, chief policy officer at the Israel Policy Forum, stated that “unclear how any negotiations can ever continue given Doha’s status as the venue.”