Qatar's prime minister warned that an unprecedented Israeli strike in Doha targeting Hamas killed hope for Gaza hostages on Wednesday, September 10, calling for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to be "brought to justice." His comments came a day after deadly strikes targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar – a US ally – a first in the oil-rich Gulf that rattled a region long shielded from conflict.
The attack, just three months after Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a US airbase in Qatar, also cast serious doubt on Qatar-mediated Gaza ceasefire talks and undermined security reassurances to the Gulf from key ally Washington.
"I think that what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told CNN. Doha is "reassessing everything" around their involvement in future ceasefire talks and discussing next steps with Washington, he added in comments cited in CNN's live blog after an interview with the broadcaster.
Earlier Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that Israel would "act against its enemies anywhere" while Netanyahu urged Qatar to expel Hamas officials or hold them to account, "because if you don't, we will."
Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 with Washington's blessing, and has been a key mediator in Gaza talks alongside Egypt and the United States.
The White House said Trump did not agree with Israel's decision to take military action. Trump said he was not notified in advance and when he heard, asked his envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar immediately – but the attack had already started.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sought to justify the decision, telling an Israeli radio station: "It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on Hamas."
Palestinian militant group Hamas said six people were killed in Tuesday's strikes in Qatar, but its senior leaders had survived, affirming "the enemy's failure to assassinate our brothers in the negotiating delegation."
Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran said Israel "represents a real danger to the security and stability of the region." "It is in an open war with everyone, not just with the Palestinian people," he said.
Israel's targeting of Hamas leaders in Qatar sparked international condemnation. Trump said he was not notified in advance of the Israeli strikes and was "not thrilled about the whole situation." "I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the US, and feel very badly about the location of the attack," he said in a social media post, adding that Hamas's elimination was still a "worthy goal."
Canada said it was reassessing its relationship with Israel following the Doha strikes.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's strikes on Qatar, calling them a "flagrant violation" of Doha's sovereignty. "I condemn this flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar," Guterres told a media briefing.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Israel's air strikes on Doha were unacceptable, whatever the reasoning behind them might be. The strikes "are unacceptable regardless of motive," Macron wrote on X, adding that "the war must not be allowed to spread in the region."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the attack violated Qatar's sovereignty and risked "further escalation" in the volatile region. "I condemn Israel's strikes on Doha (...) The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and a huge surge in aid into Gaza," he posted on X. "This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace."
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi calling it "an extension of the brutal Israeli aggression that threatens the security and stability of the region." UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed wrote, on X, that his country stood "in full solidarity with dear Qatar."