Israel says the unprecedented attack targeted Hamas leadership in Doha, where multiple rounds of negotiations were hosted in order to end the hostilities in Gaza.
Israel’s military conducted an unprecedented attack in Qatar, a key mediator in the ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the hostilities in Gaza. On Sep. 9, 2025, explosions rocked Qatar’s capital Doha, with reports about 10 munitions striking a single building, which Israel claimed it hosted Hamas leadership.
What Happened
Israel says it carried out a precision strike against senior Hamas officials in Doha. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), also known as Shin Bet, issued a joint statement, saying the members of the Hamas leadership targeted in the strike are directly responsible for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.
For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 9, 2025
While official statements did not mention how the attack was conducted, Israeli media are reporting that 15 fighter jets were involved, with ten munitions released on target. Aerial refueling tankers were possibly involved in the roughly 2,000 km flight towards the target.
More than 10 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped over 10 munitions in the strike on Hamas’s leadership in Qatar, according to military officials.
The munitions all hit a building where Hamas leaders were believed to have been gathered within seconds.
En route to carrying out… pic.twitter.com/kG96JjI42q
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 9, 2025
The route flown and the composition of the attack package are unknown, although similar strikes against Yemen included F-15I Ra’am and F-35I Adir jets. Videos emerged on social media show the targeted building heavily damaged.
Video of the building in Doha that was attacked by Israel. pic.twitter.com/o2YQsZurAw
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 9, 2025
Immediate Reactions
Qatar immediately condemned the attack, calling it “cowardly,” with Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari further calling it a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.” In a post on X, he said “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.”
تدين دولة قطر بأشد العبارات الهجوم الإسرائيلي الجبان الذي استهدف مقرات سكنية يقيم فيها عدد من أعضاء المكتب السياسي لحركة حماس في العاصمة القطرية الدوحة. هذا الاعتداء الإجرامي يشكل انتهاكًا صارخًا لكافة القوانين والأعراف الدولية، وتهديدًا خطيرًا لأمن وسلامة القطريين والمقيمين في…
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) September 9, 2025
The attack might have put an end to Qatar’s role in the peace efforts, as the country suspended its mediation between Israel and Hamas. Anxiety is now growing in Israel about the fate of the remaining hostages following the attack in Doha.
Israel informed the U.S. military shortly before the attack, and Qatar was immediately notified. President Donal Trump, according to a statement released by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the US that is working very hard in bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However eliminating Hamas, who has profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.” The President “feels very badly about the location of this attack.”
White House Releases Statement on the Israeli Strike in Doha:
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally… does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy… pic.twitter.com/JxuYjweb02
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 9, 2025
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman denies that they were informed in advance, saying that the call from U.S. officials arrived during the attack.
ما يتم تداوله من تصريحات حول أنه تم إبلاغ دولة قطر بالهجوم مسبقاً عارية عن الصحة، الاتصال الذي ورد من قبل أحد المسؤولين الأمريكين جاء خلال سماع دوي صوت الانفجارات الناتجة عن الهجوم الإسرائيلي في الدوحة.
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) September 9, 2025
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said a member of the Internal Security Force was killed, while other security personnel were hurt. However, it is being reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters, quoting Hamas officials, that the leadership survived and only the son of Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya and his aide were killed.
Sky News reports that Hamas confirmed five of its members were killed. The group further says it holds the U.S. responsible for the strike together with Israel.
This is a developing news and will be updated when new details are available.
