Failed Israeli Strike on Hamas Officials in Qatar Draws Global Backlash
DID Press: Israeli airstrike targeting members of Hamas negotiating team in Doha has failed to achieve its objectives, instead, it has provoked widespread regional and international condemnation. The incident has also exposed deep divisions within Israel’s security establishment, while prompting mixed reactions from Washington and U.S. President Donald Trump, further complicating the situation.
On Tuesday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had personally authorized the operation to target Hamas leaders in Qatar. “From now on, no Hamas leader is safe,” Netanyahu declared, adding, “Our enemies must know that the blood of our people will not be shed in vain.”
However, Hebrew-language media outlets reported that several Israeli security bodies, including the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad, and Military Intelligence, had opposed both the timing and the very premise of the operation. Mossad’s director reportedly warned that “it is not possible to assassinate Hamas leaders while negotiations with them are ongoing,” yet Netanyahu pressed ahead with the order.
The strike triggered a harsh response from Qatar. The country’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister condemned the attack as an “act of treachery,” branding Netanyahu a “rogue” and accusing Israel of “state terrorism.” Qatari officials asserted that Israel had effectively undermined all efforts toward peace.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah also issued a statement, calling the attack a “cowardly crime,” accusing Israel of disregarding national sovereignty and international law.
Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, denounced the incursion into Qatari territory and called for unity among Arab and Islamic worlds to confront what he termed Israel’s “destructive policies.”
In Washington, reactions were mixed. A White House spokesperson described targeting of Hamas leaders as a “worthy goal,” but said the operation was “counterproductive to the broader objectives of the U.S. and Israel.”
U.S. President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the incident, saying, “This was Netanyahu’s personal decision.” He added that bombing the territory of Qatar—a close U.S. ally—“serves no one’s interests,” although he reiterated that “eliminating Hamas remains a legitimate objective.”
Meanwhile, Algeria and Pakistan called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the attack.
In Europe, Netherlands responded by banning two far-right Israeli ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—from entering Schengen-area countries.
Hours after the strike, Hebrew-language media reported that Israel had yet to confirm the operation’s success or the deaths of any senior Hamas figures.