Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on the Hamas political leadership in Qatar. Tel Aviv informed the White House of the attack as it was occurring. Hamas leaders survived the attack.
On Tuesday, Israel targeted a house in Qatar where Hamas officials and its negotiation team were gathering. Hamas says the strike killed five of its members but failed to take out the negotiators. Doha said one of its security officials was also killed.
The strikes targeted a building housing members of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha. Qatar has attempted to mediate a hostage exchange and ceasefire in Gaza.
The attack involved ten Israeli warplanes firing at least ten missiles.
Netanyahu claimed Israel made the assassination attempt without assistance. “Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” a statement posted on X said. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
The strike followed President Donald Trump giving Hamas a proposal to end the conflict. Israel has repeatedly killed Hamas negotiators as talks to end the conflict were underway. The Hamas officials were meeting to discuss Trump’s proposal.
Hamas says it holds the US and Israel “jointly responsible” for the strike.
Additionally, Netanyahu started the war against Iran the day before US and Iranian officials were scheduled to meet on establishing a new nuclear agreement.
A US official told Axios that Tel Aviv did not inform Washington of the attack until the missile was in the air, leaving the White House unable to weigh in on the strike. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump instructed his envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Doha of a “pending attack,” suggesting Washington had advanced notice.
White House praises, kinda condemns Israel’s bombing of Qatar, promises ‘will not happen again’
Confirms Qatar was ‘informed of impending attack’
‘Unilaterally bombing close ally of US…doesn’t advance Israel-US goals
However, eliminating Hamas worthy goal’ https://t.co/tQ9Apuozbx pic.twitter.com/mjig8csXVP
— RT (@RT_com) September 9, 2025
Qatar denied it received advanced notice and condemned the Israeli strike. “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote on X. “This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms,…
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) September 9, 2025
The US has 10,000 troops and its largest Middle East air base in Qatar. A shelter in place order was issued at the US Embassy in Doha.
