ALBAWABA- Israel’s airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha—targeting a meeting of Hamas leaders—has triggered a global diplomatic outcry, with Arab and international leaders condemning the attack as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and international law.
Qatar confirmed that residential buildings housing members of Hamas’s Political Bureau were hit, describing the assault as “cowardly” and “a serious threat” to its security and stability.
The Egyptian Presidency denounced “the aggressive act carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on Qatar, targeting a meeting of Palestinian leaders in Doha to discuss ways to reach a ceasefire agreement.”
King Abdullah II of Jordan called Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to express “the Kingdom’s rejection of any action that harms the security, stability, and sovereignty of Doha.”
The Lebanese President said the strike “shows disregard for the lives of innocent civilians in Qatar, as it does for the peoples of the region,” while Syria affirmed full solidarity with Doha and urged “a firm international stance” against such aggression.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman voiced the Kingdom’s support for Qatar and condemned the “criminal and blatant Israeli attack.”
Kuwait labeled the strike a “treacherous aggression” that violates international norms, while Iraq warned it was “a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability.” Turkey, Iran, Algeria, Oman, Jordan, Yemen, and the Palestinian Authority also issued strong condemnations.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the assault “constitutes an escalation that threatens regional security and stability.”
At the international level, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel’s attempt to assassinate Hamas officials in Doha, stressing that it violated Qatar’s sovereignty and undermined a country that “played a very positive role in achieving the Gaza ceasefire and securing the release of hostages.”
Norway’s Foreign Minister also condemned the bombing, calling it “a serious violation of international law.”
Israel, however, defended the attack. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was justified, arguing that Hamas leaders “organized the October 7 massacre” and continue to pose a threat.
Netanyahu’s office emphasized that the operation was “completely independent, initiated and carried out by Israel, and it bears full responsibility for it.”
Notably, the United States has issued no public remarks on the strike, despite Qatar being its exclusive partner outside NATO and hosting the region’s largest US military base at Al-Udeid.
The silence has fueled speculation over Washington’s role, or inaction, in the Israeli attack, particularly given that US forces did intercept Iranian-launched projectiles in June 2025.
The incident has also cast doubt on the effectiveness of existing Gulf-US security agreements when it comes to protecting partner states from Israel, America’s closest ally in the region.
