Israel’s airstrike on Qatar’s Doha is now the 6th time, since October 2023, that the Middle Eastern nation has attacked its neighbours in the troubled region.
6 people were killed last evening as Israel launched “a surgical precision strike” targetting the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ leadership who are in Doha
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly declared that Israel “acted wholly independently”, taking full responsibility for the deadly move. Adding that “this action can open the door to the end of the war in Gaza”.
The attack on the sovereign territory of a close US ally marked a stunning escalation and almost certainly derailed the peace talks underway in Qatar.
For context, the oil-rich Arab state is a security partner of the US and hosts the US’ al-Udeid Air Base, its largest military facility in the Middle East. Qatar has acted as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas in a statement said its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed including the son of Khalil al-Hayya - Hamas’ leader for Gaza, along with a top aide. Additionally, Qatar condemned the attack “in the strongest terms” after one of its security officers was among those killed.
Hamas, which has previously only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived.
Despite Netanyahu trying to justify the blatant attack, Israel drew sharp condemnation from several quarters including the UN and countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UK, France, Germany and the EU.
Trump Administration Reaction to Escalation
But according to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, US President Donald Trump believes “this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace”. Speaking to reporters, Leavitt said that the Trump administration received prior notice about Israel’s attack. In response, special envoy Steve Witkoff was “immediately directed” to inform the Qataris but it was too late. She further added that following Israel’s attack, Trump spoke to Netanyahu and “made his thoughts and concerns very clear”.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani labelled Israel’s treacherous actions as “state terrorism” and added that they “reserve the right to respond and will take all necessary measures”.
Trump is said to have assured the Emir of Qatar in a phone call that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil”.
Since Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostage on Oct 7 2023, Israel has bombed Lebanon and Yemen while targetting the militant groups Hezbollah and Iran-backed Houthis, respectively. Additionally, Israel launched aerial strikes on Syria just days after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s rule seeking to destroy its military infrastructure, airports, and more.
Most notably, earlier in June, Israel launched a major offensive on numerous sites across Iran, including military and nuclear installations, and weapons depots. The US later joined these strikes.
