Qatar condemns Israel's 'cowardly attack' on Doha

Airstrike kills five Hamas members and a Qatari corporal in major blow to Gaza ceasefire hopes

- Bel Trew

Israel has carried out an airstrike against Hamas political leaders in Doha, which Qatar condemned as a “cowardly attack” and “criminal assault”.

Multiple explosions rocked the Qatari capital yesterday after Israeli forces launched a surprise strike. Six were killed in the bombing, including five Hamas figures and a member of the Qatari Internal Security Forces. Hamas said in a statement that none of those killed were part of its negotiating team, but that among the dead were Hammam al-Hayya, the son of their exiled leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, and the director of al-Hayya’s office, Jihad Labad. All its leaders survived the attack, it said.

The attack marked a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and drew swift condemnation from Arab leaders. It is the first time Israel has targeted the Hamas leadership in Qatar, after assassination operations in Lebanon and Iran.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, criticised what he described as “Israel’s reckless behaviour” over the attack, which he claimed targeted residential buildings housing senior Hamas political leaders.

“The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly Israeli attack... 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,” he said in a statement posted on X.

US president Donald Trump has said Israel’s “unfortunate” airstrike on Qatar does not advance the goals of either Israel or America.

“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he wrote on Truth Social.