Qatar said it reserves the right to respond after Israeli airstrikes slammed into the capital, Doha, targeting a meeting of senior Hamas leaders. The attack drew condemnation from Hamas and rare criticism from US President Donald Trump, who insisted the strike was “not my decision.”
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Tuesday, Trump said he was “very unhappy about every aspect” and stressed that the decision to strike was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close US ally, “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
He added that he had immediately ordered his envoy to notify Qatari officials, who are “working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace,” though the warning came too late to prevent the strike, his statement read.
Qatar’s foreign minister and prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, denounced the assault as “state terrorism and a blatant attempt to destabilize the region.” He vowed that Qatar would “deal firmly with any violation or aggression against its security and stability” and confirmed that Doha was forming a legal team to prepare its response.
Qatar also dispatched a letter to the UN Security Council calling the strike a grave breach of international law that endangered regional security.
Al Jazeera reported the airstrike targeted Hamas’s negotiating delegation as it met in Doha to discuss Trump’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza. Senior leaders Khalil Al-Hayya, Zahir Jabarin, and Khaled Meshaal were present.
Hamas later said five of its members were killed, along with a Qatari security officer. Those killed included Jihad Lubad, director of Khalil Al-Hayya’s office; Humam Al-Hayya, Khalil’s son; Abdullah Abdul Wahid; Moamen Hassouna; and Ahmed Al-Mamlouk.
Hamas condemned the attack as “a heinous crime and a flagrant violation of international law,” but confirmed that its negotiating delegation had survived. The group said the strike was part of Israel’s wider war to starve and displace Palestinians in Gaza and derail mediation efforts.
The Israeli occupation army admitted carrying out what it called a “precision strike” against Hamas leadership in Doha. It claimed the targeted leaders bore responsibility for the Oct. 7 attacks and for directing Hamas operations. The statement added that measures were taken to avoid civilian harm, citing the use of precision munitions and intelligence updates.
The strike came just days after Trump urged Hamas to release all Israeli captives in exchange for ending the war—a proposal Hamas welcomed in principle, saying it was prepared to negotiate a ceasefire and the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.
Israel claims Hamas holds 48 Israeli captives, including 20 alive, while rights groups say more than 10,800 Palestinian detainees remain in Israeli prisons, many subjected to torture and medical neglect.
Trump’s proposal called for a 60-day US-mediated ceasefire, an exchange of captives and detainees, and the formation of a new Gaza government, alongside vague promises of amnesty and humanitarian aid.
