On September 9, 2025, Israel carried out a risky military operation by launching an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, who served as the group’s chief negotiator and exiled Gaza leader. The strike took place while Hamas officials were reportedly discussing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal. The assault killed al-Hayya’s son and several aides, though senior leaders survived.
The operation sparked a wave of condemnation. Qatar denounced it as a “cowardly act” and a “blatant violation of international law and sovereignty.” Strong criticism also came from the UN, the UAE, Egypt, and others, reflecting growing regional alarm. Israel, however, declared it had acted independently, with the goal of breaking what it described as the impunity of Hamas’s leadership. The United States had reportedly been notified beforehand.
Why did Israel choose to escalate with such a bold strike in Qatar?
The answer lies in its strategic message: no location, not even a Gulf state serving as a mediation ground, is beyond its reach. The operation now threatens to derail peace efforts and negotiations at a time of already heightened regional tension.
