Qatar calls the strike “cowardly” as regional tensions escalate; Israeli media claims Trump approved the move.
Israel Confirms Targeted Strike on Hamas Leaders in Doha
In a dramatic escalation of its military operations across the Middle East, Israel confirmed it carried out a targeted attack on Hamas leadership based in Qatar, marking the first such strike within the Gulf state. The move has sparked a wave of diplomatic backlash, with Qatar and Jordan strongly condemning the action as a violation of international law.
According to Israeli officials quoted by Reuters, the strike targeted senior figures of Hamas residing in residential buildings in Doha, including members involved in Gaza ceasefire negotiations. The attack is part of Israel’s broader strategy to dismantle Hamas infrastructure beyond Gaza and has expanded the geographical scope of its campaign into a diplomatically sensitive region.
Qatar and Jordan Slam ‘Cowardly’ Attack as Violation of Sovereignty
The Qatari government reacted sharply, labelling the strike as a “cowardly attack”. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said:
“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha.”
Qatar, which has played a key mediating role in recent ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, warned that such acts threaten regional stability and violate the sovereignty of nations not directly involved in the conflict.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also condemned the strike in a post on X, calling it a “blatant violation of international law” and a “cowardly act”. He expressed concern that Israel’s increasingly aggressive posture could further destabilize an already volatile region.
Media Claims Trump Approved Strike on Hamas in Qatar
Adding a controversial dimension to the incident, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the strike was authorized by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Citing unnamed Israeli officials, the channel claimed Trump had given Israel the green light to target Hamas leadership in Qatar during his presidency — though no official confirmation has been issued from the U.S. government or Trump himself.
If confirmed, such approval would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding operations on foreign soil, especially in a U.S.-aligned Gulf state like Qatar.
The incident raises new questions about the limits of Israel’s extraterritorial military operations, the future of Qatari-Israeli relations, and the broader regional consequences of targeting political figures sheltered in third-party states.
