A damaged building, following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders, according to an Israeli official, in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 9, 2025. (Credit: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)
BEIRUT — An Israeli strike in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday killed six people, including five Hamas members and a Qatari security forces officer.
Six consecutive blasts were heard mid-afternoon in Doha and smoke seen rising over the city's Katara district, where several embassies are located. The BBC reported that "verified footage" showed the smoke was coming from a complex next to a petrol station on Wadi Radwan Street, north of central Doha.
Qatar has hosted Hamas' political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating the cease-fire and hostage exchange talks between the group and Israel.
The Israeli army shortly after announced it had conducted "precise strikes" targeting senior Hamas leaders without mentioning the individuals targeted, nor specifying the location of the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on X asserting that Israel had acted completely independently, while U.S. President Donald Trump later expressed his dissatisfaction with Israel's actions while speaking to reporters, saying it was "very unhappy." Reporting from the U.S. revealed that Israel had informed the U.S. of their attack plans when its fighter jets were already en route. Trump had immediately ordered White House envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar, but by then the attack was already underway.
Hamas released a statement announcing that five of its members were killed, including the son of its top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, as well as Hayya's office director, in addition to three "accompanying" members — but that its senior leadership had survived the attack. Hamas called the assassination attempt a "horrific crime, a blatant aggression and a flagrant violation of all international laws and customs." Hamas also deplored the death of a member of Qatar's internal security forces.
It concluded its statement by affirming that "this assassination attempt will not change our positions or our demands," which it reiterated were: "an immediate end to the aggression in Gaza, the complete withdrawal of the occupation army, a genuine exchange of prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza."
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday praised his country's "wise decision" to strike senior Hamas officials after Qatar specified that the strikes had targeted the homes of leaders of the Palestinian group.
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Israeli attack in Doha: Hamas announces 5 deaths, maintains demands | LIVE
Hamas team bombed while discussing truce proposal
At the time of the attack, Hamas' delegation had been meeting to discuss a new cease-fire and hostage release proposal drawn up by U.S. President Donald Trump and delivered to the group on Sunday, as the Israeli army escalates its offensive to seize Gaza City.
"Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end!" Trump posted on social media on Sunday evening. "The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well." Trump said this would be his "last warning."
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters that Israel had accepted the U.S. plan and that the war "can end tomorrow."
One senior Israeli official told Israeli media that Hamas' top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, and Zaher Jabarin, a senior official who has held various positions, were among those targeted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war in Gaza could end "immediately" if Hamas accepted Trump's truce plan.
A possible green light from Trump
A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Israel had notified the U.S. shortly ahead of its attack on Doha, and, according to Israel's Channel 12 news, also citing a senior Israeli official, Trump gave the green light for assassinations.
"Trump believes Israel's strike on Hamas targets in Qatar was unfortunate and he directed a top aide, Steve Witkoff, to warn Qatar the attack was coming," Reuters added.
Following the reports, Netanyahu's office released a statement, writing on X: "Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility."
Longtime Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal — whom Israel tried to assassinate in Jordan in 1997 — was at the meeting targeted by Israel, according to the Channel 12 report. However, there are no reports of those injured in the attack yet.
Netanyahu also said he ordered the attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday, following a deadly shooting the day before in Jerusalem that was claimed by the Palestinian Islamist movement.
Qatar condemns strikes as 'cowardly' attack
Qatar said the "cowardly" Israeli attack is a "flagrant violation of all international law," adding that an investigation is ongoing "on the highest level." Doha has been the site of cease-fire negotiations throughout the entire war and has been the political base for Hamas officials in exile from Palestine.
"All the Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians remained calm, but the rest panicked," said Hamza, who is from southern Lebanon and works in Human Resources in a company in Qatar. "We all looked at each other knowingly when we heard the strikes. We've lived through similar stuff in our home countries."
"'If Gaza is unsafe, let the whole world be unsafe,'" Hamza recounted his Palestinian colleague as having told him in a hushed whisper. "'Let them know that Israel has no red lines; the strikes could have easily been against civilians, both Qataris and residents of Qatar.'"
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar on Tuesday urged its citizens in the country to "stay safe" after an Israeli attack that Qatari authorities said targeted a compound housing Hamas officials in Doha.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, condemned the Israeli attack, denouncing it as a "criminal act" and a "violation of international law" during a call with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
