Tel Aviv/Doha/Washington, Sept 9–10 (ANI/TPS): The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday that its Air Force, in coordination with Shin Bet, carried out a targeted strike against Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, killing several senior members of the group. The IDF said those targeted had led Hamas operations for years and were directly responsible for the October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 252 taken hostage. Of the 48 still captive, about 20 are believed to be alive.
“Prior to the attack, steps were taken to minimise harm to uninvolved people, including the use of precision weapons and additional intelligence,” the IDF said, vowing to continue operations to defeat Hamas. Israeli officials later confirmed more than 10 fighter jets were involved, including US-made F-35I stealth aircraft designed to evade radar.
Hamas confirmed that five of its members were killed but said the negotiating delegation in Doha survived. Qatar, which has served as a key mediator in ceasefire talks, strongly condemned the strike, calling Israel a “rogue player” in the Middle East and accusing it of committing “state terrorism.”
The attack immediately triggered diplomatic tensions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump “felt very badly” about the strike’s location in Qatar, a close US ally, but maintained that eliminating Hamas remained a “worthy goal.” Leavitt claimed Trump directed Special Envoy Steven Witkoff to inform Qatari officials of the impending strike.
Qatar, however, flatly denied receiving any prior notice. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed Al Ansari said the US call came only after the explosions had begun. “The statements about Qatar being informed in advance are baseless. The call from a US official came during the sound of explosions,” he wrote on X. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani accused Israel of destabilising the region and said the strike used weapons that evaded radar detection.
Meanwhile, the Families’ Headquarters for the Return of the Abductees in Israel warned that the strike could worsen the plight of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “The chance of their return is now more uncertain than ever. The price for the 48 abductees may be unbearable,” the group said, urging the government to present a structured plan for their release.
President Trump later spoke separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Amir and Prime Minister. According to the White House, Trump urged a swift path to peace, pressed for the release of all hostages, and assured Doha that such an incident “would not happen again on their soil.”
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