Israel attacks Hamas leaders in Qatar, Trump says he’s ‘very unhappy’ about strike
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Israel's attack in Qatar drew condemnation from key regional countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
PHOTO: AFP
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- Israel launched an air strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, escalating Middle East conflict and drawing condemnation, particularly for violating Qatari sovereignty.
- The US criticised the "unilateral" attack, stating it undermines peace efforts and US-Israeli goals, despite affirming that "eliminating Hamas... is a worthy goal."
- The strike risks derailing ceasefire talks, prompts international condemnation, and raises concerns for hostages and further regional destabilisation, with Gaza facing increased conflict.
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DOHA/DUBAI/WASHINGTON – Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an air strike on Qatar on Sept 9, escalating its military action in the Middle East with what the US described as a unilateral attack that does not advance American and Israeli interests.
US President Donald Trump said he was “very unhappy about every aspect” of the Israeli strike and would be giving a full statement on the issue on Sept 10.
“I’m not thrilled about it,” Mr Trump said as he arrived at a Washington restaurant. “It’s not a good situation, but I will say this: We want the hostages back, but we’re not thrilled about the way it went down today.”
While Israel defended the attack as justified, Qatar said Israel was treacherous and engaged in “state terrorism”.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the air strike threatened to derail the peace talks Qatar has been mediating between Hamas and Israel.
Mr Trump said he considered hitting Hamas a worthy goal, but he felt badly that the attack took place in the Gulf Arab state, which is a major non-Nato ally of Washington and where the Palestinian militant group has long had its political base.
The attack drew condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union, and risks derailing Gaza ceasefire talks and Mr Trump’s push to achieve a negotiated end to the nearly two-year-old conflict.
Qatar is a key security partner of the US and host to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.
It has acted as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks on a ceasefire in Gaza, which is becoming increasingly elusive.
Hamas said five of its members were killed in the attack, including the son of Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya.
It said Israel had failed in what Hamas called an attempt to assassinate the group’s ceasefire negotiation team.
The Trump administration received warning of the attack from the US military just before it took place, Mr Trump said in a statement on social media earlier.
He did not say if it was Israel that notified the US military.
“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’s or America’s goals,” Mr Trump wrote.
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
Hamas political bureau member Suhail Al-Hindi told Al Jazeera TV that the group’s top leadership survived the Israeli attack.
The air strike followed Israel’s warning to Palestinians to leave Gaza City, an area once home to about a million people, as it tries to destroy what is left of Hamas, which has been decimated by Israel’s military since October 2023.
Mr Trump said he directed his envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar that the attack was coming
“Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to respond,” Sheikh Mohammed told reporters.
Israel killed one member of Qatar’s internal security forces in its attack and injured others, Qatar said.
Mr Trump assured the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a phone call after the attack that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil”.
He also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas said five of its members had been killed in the attack, but its top leadership had survived.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Israeli officials told Reuters that the strike was aimed at top Hamas leaders, including Mr Al-Hayya.
Israel is still gathering information on the strike and is yet to determine whether any Hamas officials or leaders were killed, said a source briefed on the matter.
Two US officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the US military had been notified by Israel shortly before the strike, but there was no coordination with or approval from Washington.
Mr Trump made a high-profile visit to Qatar in May and stayed at a hotel about 2km from the Sept 9 attack site.
Attack followed Jerusalem killings
The air strike took place shortly after Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a shooting on Sept 8 that killed six people
Mr Netanyahu said the attack on Hamas was “entirely justified” and was ordered after the Jerusalem attack and the loss of four Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
“The days are over when terror leaders can enjoy immunity of any kind... I won’t allow that kind of immunity to exist,” he said in a televised address.
The Israeli operation drew strong negative reactions around the world.
The EU called it a breach of international law and the UAE, which normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, called it “blatant and cowardly”.
Pope Leo expressed unusually forceful concern about the consequences of Israel’s strike in Qatar. “The entire situation is very serious,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and said Qatar had been playing a very positive role in seeking a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders since the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel in October 2023,
Israel has also launched air strikes and other military action in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.
Gaza City braces itself for new onslaught
On Sept 9, Palestinians living in the ruins of Gaza City were showered with Israeli leaflets ordering them out, after Israel said it was about to obliterate the area in an assault to wipe out Hamas, causing panic and confusion.
Israel wants to demilitarise the entire Gaza Strip, home to 2.2 million Palestinians before the war.
Many countries around the world have warned that Israel’s plan would spell catastrophe for Palestinians.
The plan has also provoked concern inside Israel, where public support for the war has wavered.
Israel’s military leadership has warned Mr Netanyahu against expanding the war, according to Israeli officials.
Displaced Palestinians fleeing Gaza City, following an Israeli evacuation order on Sept 9.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Families of Israeli hostages fear the attack could endanger the captives.
Mr Netanyahu says he is acting out of Israel’s interest by moving to finish off Hamas to safeguard his country against any more attacks.
Israel has been accused of genocide, including in September by the world’s biggest group of genocide scholars, over its nearly two-year campaign in the Palestinian enclave that has killed more than 64,000 people
