Israeli strike on Hamas in Qatar shocks allies
Qatar, criticized for hosting Hamas leaders, now faces growing international pressure to expel the group’s top leadership amid tensions.
Qatar hosts largest US base, aids Afghanistan evacuations, and holds major non-NATO ally status.
Despite gifting Trump a \$400M jet and mediating peace talks, Qatar faced Israeli airstrikes in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, shaking its reputation as a secure Gulf hub of stadiums, malls, and US defenses during Israel-Hamas conflict negotiations.
But until now, Israel had avoided one location: Hamas’ political office in Qatar, a small Gulf nation seen as both a crucial US ally and a rare mediator in the conflict.
That restraint ended on Tuesday. In a move analysts describe as a dangerous gamble, Israel struck a meeting of Hamas’ exiled leadership in Doha. The attack has shaken ceasefire negotiations, sent political shock waves across the Middle East, and raised uncomfortable questions about whether US security guarantees for Gulf states can still be trusted.
Qatar has always been controversial for hosting Hamas. Critics argue it gave the group legitimacy, while supporters say it allowed Doha to play peacemaker in global conflicts, from housing Taliban envoys to mediating hostage talks. “They want relationships with a wide range of powers. These strikes will only accelerate that trend.”
For Gulf Arab nations with small militaries and fragile, oil-dependent economies, Israel’s attack is deeply unsettling. Many now see Israel’s unpredictability as a greater threat than Iran — a dramatic shift in perception.
The timing also threatens Israel’s broader diplomatic ambitions. The “Abraham Accords,” which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states in 2020, once seemed to pave the way for Saudi Arabia to follow suit. But Israel’s relentless Gaza offensive and now this strike in Doha have reignited Arab anger. Riyadh has revived its demand for Palestinian statehood, while analysts say the idea of Gulf states normalizing ties with Israel is “dead for now.”
The strike also derails fragile ceasefire talks. The Hamas officials in Doha had reportedly been reviewing a proposal involving the release of 48 Israeli hostages. But Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from his far-right allies, continues to push for a new offensive in Gaza. That strategy risks further bloodshed, endangers remaining hostages, and undermines peace efforts.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, frustrated, suggested negotiations might no longer be worthwhile after such a brazen attack. “The strike was a message not just to Hamas, but to the entire region,” said one expert. The message, it seems, is that Israel intends to rely on force, regardless of the political costs.