Israel’s Strike on Qatar: Regional Shockwaves
Israel’s airstrike on Doha on September 9, 2025, marked a rare and serious escalation in the Gulf. The attack targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, killing at least six people, including five Hamas members of lower rank and a Qatari security officer. It was a direct violation of Qatari sovereignty and has already triggered regional and global condemnation. The strike also came at a sensitive moment, as Qatar was hosting negotiations over a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan in Gaza.
Rumors and Myths
Several rumors spread quickly after the attack. Some reports claimed that Israel had eliminated Hamas’s top leadership. In reality, senior Hamas leaders survived; those killed were mid-level figures. Another widespread claim was that the U.S. approved or even directed the strike. However, President Trump publicly expressed that he was “very unhappy” about the incident, and U.S. officials indicated they were not fully informed in advance. A third rumor suggested that Qatar would abandon its mediation role altogether. While shaken, Doha has declared its intention to continue working on ceasefire talks, though its leverage has clearly been undermined. These clarifications are important to separate facts from speculation in a tense regional atmosphere.
Background and Reactions
Qatar’s ties with Israel have always been complex. While there are no formal diplomatic relations, Doha has long acted as a key broker by hosting Hamas’s political office and funding aid to Gaza. Israel tolerated this arrangement because it kept communication channels open. In the broader Gulf, the picture is mixed: the UAE and Bahrain normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, while Saudi Arabia and others have been more cautious. Following the strike, Qatar condemned the attack as “state terror,” while Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan voiced strong solidarity. International responses were also sharp. Russia called the strike a “gross violation” of international law, European states condemned it as unacceptable, and the UN Security Council convened an urgent debate.
Consequences for Regional Stability
The immediate fallout is a loss of trust in Israel’s willingness to respect regional norms. For Qatar, the strike damaged its credibility as a safe host for mediation, though it still insists on continuing its role. For the wider region, the event risks slowing down normalization processes and could deepen divides among Gulf states on how to manage relations with Israel. Long term, it also raises questions about U.S. reliability as a security partner, since Washington could not prevent an Israeli attack on the soil of one of its Gulf allies. Israel’s strike in Doha has therefore not only escalated the Gaza conflict but also unsettled the broader Gulf balance.
