Israel Reportedly Plotting New Strike on Qatar in Pursuit of Top Hamas Figures
DOHA A Bold Strike A Shaken Region: Israeli Warplanes Hit Hamas Meeting in Heart of Qatar
In a stunning escalation of the Middle East conflict Israeli fighter jets reportedly launched a precision strike in central Doha this week targeting a high level Hamas leadership meeting. The operation captured on security footage and confirmed by local sources left at least five Hamas members dead and sent political shockwaves across the Gulf.
The strike unprecedented in its audacity and location has enraged Qatari officials who condemned it as a “flagrant act of aggression” and a direct violation of national sovereignty. Massive crowds gathered at the Grand Mosque in Doha for the victims’ funerals a vivid display of public outrage and national grief.
“This is not just an attack on Hamas” said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. “It is an attack on our soil our sovereignty and our role in regional diplomacy.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike in a televised statement declaring that “no safe haven” will be tolerated for Hamas leaders whether in Gaza, Doha or beyond. He further warned Qatar to expel Hamas political bureau or face continued military pressure.
The move has thrown already fragile ceasefire negotiations into disarray and drawn sharp rebukes from several Arab states many of whom had been cautiously backing Qatar’s role as a mediator in the Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump now a key player in global diplomacy due to his reelection campaign claimed on Truth Social that he was informed of the operation “minutes before impact.” He criticized the strike as “reckless” but stopped short of condemning Israels broader objectives. “This was Netanyahu’s call not mine” Trump wrote adding that he had assured Qatari officials there would be “no repeat.”
Analysts say the strike not only endangers prospects for a Gaza ceasefire but also places U.S. foreign policy in a delicate position. Qatar hosts the region’s largest American military installation at Al Udeid Air Base, a cornerstone of Pentagon operations in the Middle East.
Hamas leaders confirmed that several key aides were killed in the blast, including the son of senior official Khalil al Hayya but claimed that top commanders narrowly escaped. The group vowed retaliation and accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging ongoing hostage negotiations. Forty eight Israeli hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza.
As Israeli forces press deeper into Gazas final Hamas stronghold an area now facing famine and near total destruction the region braces for what could be the most volatile phase of the war yet.
