Today's News: Israeli Airstrike in Qatar Targets Hamas Leadership
This action provoked immediate and widespread international condemnation, including criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who distanced himself from the strike.
Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
Overview
Date: September 9, 2025
Summary: Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, on September 9, 2025, targeting senior Hamas political leadership, including Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin. The attack occurred while Hamas officials were reportedly meeting to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. This action provoked immediate and widespread international condemnation, including criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who distanced himself from the strike. While Hamas claimed its senior leadership survived, the attack killed other individuals, including a Qatari Internal Security Force member, and significantly jeopardized the already fragile ceasefire and hostage release negotiations mediated by Qatar. Israel affirmed it was an independent operation and took full responsibility.
Sources
The New York Times - Once Again, Israel Leaves Trump in the Dark as It Conducts a Military Attack
CNN - Three reasons Israel’s attack against Hamas in Doha was shocking
NBC News - Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatar, which had been mediating a ceasefire in Gaza
The Washington Post - Israeli airstrike targets top Hamas leaders, upending ceasefire talks
The Wall Street Journal - Inside Israel’s Audacious Airstrike on Hamas Leaders in Qatar, a U.S. Ally
Key Points
Israel conducted an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas political leadership, including Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin.
The strike occurred while Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
The attack drew widespread international condemnation from various countries and organizations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, France, and Qatar.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the strike, stating he was unhappy about it and that it does not advance U.S. or Israeli goals, while also acknowledging eliminating Hamas is a worthy goal.
Qatar, a key U.S. ally and mediator in the negotiations, condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty and indicated it would reassess its mediation role.
The strike is seen as severely jeopardizing the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Israel took full responsibility for the operation, describing it as a “wholly independent Israeli operation” and a “precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.”
The U.S. maintains a significant military presence in Qatar, hosting the largest American military base in the Middle East at Al Udeid Air Base.
Hamas claimed its senior leadership survived the attack, although other casualties were reported, including a son of Khalil al-Hayya, his office director, and a Qatari Internal Security Force member.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times: Highlights President Trump’s “haphazard approach” to the Gaza war, describing it as “whatever Israel wants, whatever Netanyahu wants,” a contrast to former President Biden’s “rhetorical red lines,” according to Khaled Elgindy. It also notes Trump’s rare split with Netanyahu in July when he acknowledged Palestinians were starving, and Israel’s total evacuation order for Gaza City issued the same day as the strike.
CNN: Provides an analysis from Brett McGurk, identifying three reasons the strike was shocking: Israel immediately and publicly claimed credit (unlike a previous strike on Ismail Haniyeh), it targeted a known location in a country both the U.S. and Israel had asked to host Hamas leaders for mediation, and it makes a hostage deal significantly less likely. McGurk also suggests Hamas might retaliate by executing hostages and proposes the U.S. could halt efforts for a deal if harm comes to them.
NBC News: Identifies the deceased Qatari Internal Security Force member as Cpl. Bader Saad Mohammed Al Humaidi Al Dosari. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described Israel’s actions as “treachery,” stating they used radar-undetectable weapons, and that Qatar’s emir asked for a legal team to evaluate all potential responses.
The Washington Post: Specifies the casualties included Khalil al-Hayya’s son, the director of al-Hayya’s office, three bodyguards, and a Qatari Internal Security Forces officer. It quotes Khaled Elgindy suggesting the ceasefire talks were “a cover” for Netanyahu to intensify the war. The article also details the history of repeated ceasefire attempts and how Netanyahu’s position on hostage demands had shifted previously.
The Wall Street Journal: Notes the targeted residence was in the “dusty northern suburbs of Doha—the same place where the militant group’s leaders celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks.” It describes Israel’s operational tactics, stating at least 10 warplanes used “long-range ‘over the horizon’ missiles” to strike from a safe distance without flying over sensitive airspace. The article also mentions previous warnings to Hamas leaders from Egyptian and Turkish officials to tighten security.
Fox News: Identifies Zaher Jabarin’s specific role as responsible for Hamas’s finances and a key player in its West Bank operations. It quotes the IDF stating, “Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.” The article also cites Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon commending the “courageous and precise operation,” asserting “There is no hiding place for terrorists.”
Contrasting Details
U.S. Advance Knowledge of the Strike:
The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal: President Trump stated he found out about Israel’s airstrike from the U.S. military, not Prime Minister Netanyahu, and was “very unhappy about every aspect.” The Wall Street Journal and NBC News specify that the U.S. military was notified minutes before missiles launched, but not of the exact location.
Fox News: Israeli officials told Fox News Digital that the U.S. was informed in advance of the strikes.
The Washington Post: Israeli officials reportedly said the United States had “green-lit” the attack in Doha.
Qatari Notification of the Strike:
The New York Times: President Trump stated the United States had tried to notify Qatar of the strikes, but it was “too late to stop the attack.”
NBC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal: Qatari officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, denied receiving advance notice, with Al Thani stating the first call they received was 10 minutes after the bombing occurred. The Washington Post adds that while Trump directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar, Qatari officials said they received the American warning 10 minutes after the bombing began.
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