Israel’s president said the military targeted a senior Hamas negotiator in Qatar because he opposed a proposed ceasefire deal, a claim that came as the strike in Doha drew rare public criticism from the United States and strong condemnation from Qatar.
President Isaac Herzog told the Daily Mail that Khalil al-Hayya was targeted because he repeatedly objected to a deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza, saying, "He kept saying 'Yes, but' in negotiations" and describing al‑Hayya as "number one in Hamas" who "has the blood of thousands of Israelis on his hands." Herzog linked al‑Hayya to the planning of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that helped precipitate the nearly two‑year war.
Israeli officials and diplomats defended the operation after U.S. political figure Donald Trump publicly expressed displeasure. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, told Israel’s 103FM radio that the decision to strike a complex in Doha where a delegation had been meeting was "the right" one and that "we don't always act in the interests of the United States," while expressing general appreciation for U.S. support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military had "acted unilaterally" and argued the strikes could "open the door" to an end to the war, adding that Israel had accepted a proposal put forward by the Trump administration.
The attack, unprecedented on Qatari soil, produced explosions and smoke in the Qatari capital. Israeli media reported that about 10 fighter jets were involved and that each aircraft fired multiple munitions at the single target; the Israel Defense Forces described the strike as "precise." Hamas said its negotiating delegation was meeting in Doha to discuss a U.S. ceasefire proposal when the strike occurred and accused Israel of an "assassination attempt." Israeli officials said senior Hamas members were present; Hamas later said its top leadership survived the attack.
Israeli authorities reported six people killed in the strike, including the son of Khalil al‑Hayya and three of his bodyguards. Reports named the dead as Humam al‑Hayya, Jihad Labad, Abdullah Abdul Wahid, Moamen Hassouna, Ahmed al‑Mamluk and Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed Al‑Humaidi, a member of the Qatari security forces. An Israeli diplomat said it was still too early to comment on the full outcome of the operation.
The strikes provoked immediate diplomatic friction. Trump told reporters he was "not thrilled about the whole situation," saying the U.S. wants hostages returned but that he was upset by the location of the attack and that he had not been alerted in advance. The White House initially said it had been notified. Qatar condemned the "cowardly" strikes. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al‑Thani denounced Netanyahu for "dragging the region to a place where it unfortunately cannot be repaired," said Doha reserved the right to respond, and questioned whether ceasefire talks could continue.
Qatar has acted as a central mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas, hosting delegations attempting to negotiate pauses in the fighting and hostage releases. Observers said the strike risked undermining those mediation efforts and could have wider diplomatic consequences.
Dr. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of defence studies at King's College, told the Daily Mail the operation appeared aimed at "decapitating Hamas's political leadership and, by extension, crippling the negotiations for a ceasefire." He said the attack signaled to domestic Israeli audiences that Hamas leaders were not safe even under Qatari protection and risked "backfiring" by isolating Israel diplomatically and weakening trust in mediators such as Qatar and the United States.
The incident highlights the fragility of mediation efforts even as international figures and powers push for pauses in a conflict that began after Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. That assault killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed tens of thousands, with Gaza's health ministry reporting at least 64,605 deaths, most of them civilians; the United Nations considers those ministry figures to be a reliable source.
Formal reactions from other regional and international capitals were mixed and continuing. Israel framed the strike as an action against a "terrorist organisation," not a hostile act toward Qatar, while Doha warned of consequences and questioned whether it could continue to serve as an effective mediator. With both sides giving conflicting accounts of who was present and what was achieved, Israeli officials said they were still assessing results and the implications for further diplomacy and military planning.
The attack and the diplomatic fallout leave open critical questions about the future of ceasefire negotiations, the safety of mediation venues, and the extent to which key external actors will be able to coordinate or restrain operations by their allies as the war in Gaza continues.