The Israeli military attacked several residential buildings and the political headquarters of Hamas Tuesday in Qatar’s capital, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. Israel’s military said they deliberately targeted senior Hamas officials, who reports said were reviewing President Donald Trump’s latest ceasefire plan.
An Israeli airstrike rattled the Qatari city of Doha late Tuesday, local time. On X, the IDF described the attacks as precise to “mitigate harm to civilians.”
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While the intent was to assassinate Hamas’ senior leadership, an anonymous source affiliated with the group told international news outlet Al Jazeera that none of its members died. The source added that Hamas was in Doha to discuss Trump’s ceasefire proposal.
“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Why was Qatar targeted?
The IDF claimed that the targets had led Hamas’ operations and were “directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre” but didn’t clarify what information it had. The organization said it would continue to “operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre.”
Dr. Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and adviser to the prime minister, condemned the “cowardly” attack on X and said it hit residential buildings. He also claimed Israel’s strike violated “all international laws and norms,” threatening Qataris’ safety. Al Ansari added that an investigation is underway.
“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty,” he wrote.
Authorities have not yet clarified if the attack resulted in any injuries or fatalities.
The U.S. Embassy in Doha enacted a shelter-in-place and advised U.S. citizens in Qatar to do the same. Al Jazeera reported that several foreign embassies are located in Doha, and the attack has created anxiety for many people in the country. The U.S. itself has a military base in Doha — Al Udeid Air Base — that serves as a regional hub for many of the U.S.’s armed forces. Iran attacked the base in June in retaliation for the U.S. bombing its nuclear sites, The Associated Press reported.
Al Jazeera reported that American military officials weren’t made aware of Israel’s strike until after the fact.
America’s ceasefire proposal for Hamas
The AP reported that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, presented the deal to Hamas. It called for a negotiated end to the Israel-Hamas war, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza once Hamas released the remaining hostages and both sides established the truce.
Israel targets other Middle East countries
Qatar is the latest country Israel has struck in the past day. Reports said Israel attacked Lebanon and Syria in a quest to kill militant or terrorist groups.
In Lebanon, Israel killed four Hezbollah members and one additional person when it launched an airstrike in a northeastern section of the country, the AP reported. Lebanon’s Health Ministry told the publication that Israel wounded another five people in the attack. Israel’s military confirmed the country’s air force targeted Hezbollah’s positions and infrastructure in the airstrikes.
Israel and Hezbollah ended their war with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November, but Israel has continued striking the country. Hezbollah hasn’t fired at Israel or retaliated since the ceasefire. The U.S. labeled the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, according to the State Department.
In Syria, BBC News reported that Israel launched air strikes in central and western parts of the country.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as a “blatant infringement” of the country’s sovereignty and regional stability. Militants overthrew Syria’s former president Bashar Assad and his administration in December, which led to street celebrations declaring Syria liberated after the Assad family’s 53-year rule, Al Jazeera reported in December.
