Israel carried out precision airstrikes in Qatar’s capital Doha against terrorist group Hamas’ leadership on 9 September 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strike taking full responsibility for the operation.
According to a Hamas statement, its senior figures were not harmed in the Doha strike, though five members of the group were killed. Those killed, according to Hamas, included Khalil al-Hayya’s son who was also the head of his office.
Al-Hayya serves as Hamas’s chief negotiator and leader for Gaza. The group, which in the past has delayed confirming losses among its top ranks, offered no evidence that its senior officials had indeed survived.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry also confirmed that one of its Internal Security Force officers was killed and that others were injured.
The strike marked the first known Israeli military operation inside Qatar, a key U.S. ally and mediator in the Gaza conflict. Qatar, which has often been accused of supporting terror groups, strongly condemned the attack as a breach of its sovereignty and a violation of international law, language echoed by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and leaders across the Arab League.
A day earlier, a terrorist attack unfolded at a bus stop in East Jerusalem’s Ramot Junction in Israel. Two Palestinian terrorists opened fire during the morning rush hour inside a bus and at passersby, killing six people and seriously wounding many others. Among those killed were individuals of diverse backgrounds, including a rabbi and a recent immigrant from Spain, while at least 12 people were injured.
The attackers were shot dead at the scene by an off-duty soldier and armed civilians. Israeli authorities described the incident as one of the deadliest attacks in Jerusalem in recent years and launched raids in nearby West Bank villages as part of the ongoing security response
The attack prompted fierce condemnation from Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu, joined by senior officials including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, vowed harsh retaliation and expanded military operations in the West Bank.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned violence against civilians, and several international actors, including European governments and the United Arab Emirates, called for renewed efforts toward peace.
The terror attack in Jerusalem and the Israeli strikes in Doha happened at a time when negotiations are ongoing regarding the release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 2023 terror attacks in Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier issued a clear ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of captives. He warned of severe consequences if the group fails to comply, describing his appeal as a final opportunity to avoid escalation.
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