September 9, 2025
Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming that Israel carried out a strike Tuesday targeting top Hamas leaders in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, adding that the strike “was a wholly independent Israeli operation.”
Why It Matters: The strike marks an escalation in the nearly two-year conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hamas. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior confirmed the strikes targeted the residences of Hamas’ political delegation. Qatar – a key mediator in ceasefire talks – condemned the attack as “a clear breach of international law, and a serious threat to regional security.”
Hamas acknowledged five of its members died but said none were part of its negotiating delegation, which it claims Israel sought to eliminate. Qatar confirmed a sixth casualty – a member of its internal security forces.
In a statement, the White House said it received advance notice of the strike by the U.S. military, but warned, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
Learn More:
- Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatar, which had been mediating a ceasefire in Gaza (NBC News)
- Live Updates: Israel targets Hamas leadership in Qatar strike (CNN)
Image Credit: University of Texas at Austin
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
