Israel carried out an aerial strike on a residential building in Doha on Tuesday that it said targeted senior Hamas officials, in an operation the Israeli government described as aimed at leaders "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre." Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and international law, and several regional and international actors warned the strike risks further escalation across the Middle East.
Israeli officials said the operation, codenamed "Summit of Fire," involved about 15 fighter jets, more than 10 munitions and supporting drones, and required mid-air refuelling. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the strike was planned over months, accelerated recently, and was conducted independently by Israel, which "takes full responsibility." Hamas said its negotiating delegation survived but reported six people killed, naming Humam al-Hayya, son of senior negotiator Saleh al-Hayya, and five others among the dead.
Doha's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al‑Ansari called the attack "a criminal assault" and a "blatant violation of all international laws and norms," saying it threatened the safety of Qataris and residents. Qatari officials and other witnesses reported explosions in the West Bay Lagoon area shortly after 4 p.m. local time; black smoke was seen rising from a heavily damaged complex close to schools, universities and foreign embassies. Qatar says its air defences, including Patriot and THAAD systems, did not detect the incoming weapons. Israeli and outside analysts said the strike could have used stand‑off missiles launched from a distance, without Israeli aircraft entering Qatari airspace.
The IDF said the attack targeted a building used as a regular meeting place for Hamas leadership and that measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking hours after the strike, said the site was the same location where Hamas leaders celebrated on October 7, 2023, when militants carried out an attack that killed roughly 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages. Netanyahu said the days were over when "terror leaders will enjoy immunity in a particular place."
Hamas issued a statement saying the strike failed to assassinate members of its negotiating team and accused Israel of seeking to derail talks. The group said those killed in Doha included Humam al‑Hayya, Jihad Labad, Abdullah Abdul Wahid, Moamen Hassouna, Ahmed Al‑Mamluk and a member of Qatari security forces, Badr Saad Mohammed Al‑Humaidi. Israel confirmed it had targeted Saleh al‑Hayya, head of Hamas's negotiating team, among other senior figures believed to be in Doha.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the decision to strike was made by Prime Minister Netanyahu and not by him, but that the U.S. military had notified the administration that Israel was planning an attack. Trump added that he was "not thrilled" the strike occurred on Qatari soil, called Qatar a "strong ally," and said he had alerted a U.S. envoy to inform Qatari authorities. Qatar disputed U.S. claims that it had been warned in advance, saying any call from a U.S. official arrived amid the explosions. The Qatari prime minister later said he had been told by Washington that a missile attack had been expected, but only after the strikes.
The attack risks widening the war that has been centred on Gaza since October 7. Qatar hosts ceasefire negotiations and has played a key role as mediator between Israel and Hamas; Israeli officials had said the Doha meetings were discussing a U.S. proposal that included the immediate release of remaining Israeli hostages and a temporary ceasefire. Israel's operation in Doha occurred a day after a deadly shooting in Jerusalem, which Israeli officials and Hamas statements tied to escalating violence. Israeli national security and intelligence chiefs reportedly approved the operation in a tightly held decision that did not include the broader cabinet, citing the sensitivity of striking in proximity to Iranian and allied air‑defence systems.
International reaction was swift. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned the attack, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman calling it a "criminal attack." UK opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer said the strikes violated Qatari sovereignty and risked further escalation. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres described the strikes as a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar" and warned that undermining negotiation channels threatened ongoing ceasefire efforts. The Israeli government defended the strike as necessary to hold Hamas leadership accountable for past attacks and to press demands for the release of hostages.
Within hours of the Doha strike, the Iran‑aligned Houthi movement in Yemen launched a ballistic missile toward Israel that it said targeted sites near Jerusalem; Israeli forces intercepted the projectile and there were no reports of casualties. The exchanges underscored concerns among diplomats and analysts that the conflict could draw in regional actors and allies.
On the ground in Gaza, Israeli forces have continued operations, with the IDF moving to intensify action in Gaza City and issuing evacuation orders for the city's residents. Humanitarian groups and UN officials warned that a major offensive on Gaza City would cause extensive civilian casualties and displacement. The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, reported at least 64,231 deaths in the territory since the current hostilities began following the October attacks.
Analysts differed on the strategic intent and likely consequences of the Doha strike. Some Israeli officials and supporters said the operation targeted those responsible for atrocities and removed safe havens for militant leadership. Other experts and diplomats warned that striking a host country where mediators and international forces are present risked isolating Israel diplomatically, undermining a US‑led mediation track and bolstering narratives of resistance among Palestinian factions.
The fate of some senior Hamas leaders believed to have been present in Doha remained unclear in the hours following the attack. Israeli military and intelligence chiefs, including the IDF chief of staff and air force commander, were reported to have directed the operation from specialised command centres. Qatar said it would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and called for accountability.
The strike represents a significant and unusual escalation of the conflict, striking directly at leadership located in a state that has hosted Hamas political figures and acted as an intermediary in hostage and ceasefire negotiations. Diplomatic efforts to resume talks and to secure the release of hostages face immediate disruption, and regional actors urged restraint to prevent wider confrontation. Humanitarian organisations reiterated concerns over the civilian impact of expanding military operations in Gaza and cautioned that further military escalation would deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis.