Israel carried out an airstrike on a residential complex in Doha on Tuesday that it said targeted senior Hamas leaders, prompting sharp condemnation from Qatar, which called the operation "reckless" and a breach of international law.
Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising above the Qatari capital early on Tuesday afternoon. Verified footage showed heavy damage to a section of a complex next to a Woqod petrol station on Wadi Rawdan Street, near the West Bay Lagoon area north of central Doha.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it conducted a "precise strike" using what it described as precise munitions against members of Hamas it called "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre." Israeli media reported the operation involved about 15 fighter jets and the firing of approximately 10 munitions against a single target.
Hamas officials said members of the group's negotiating delegation were targeted while in a meeting. The IDF said it struck the group's "senior leadership," but did not publicly identify the individuals hit and there has been no independent confirmation of who was killed or wounded.
Israel's prime minister's office described the operation as "a wholly independent Israeli operation," saying "Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility." The White House said it had been informed of the operation. Because of the proximity of the large U.S. al-Udeid airbase just outside Doha, U.S. officials were kept aware of the action, according to statements and coverage in international media. Some media commentary noted that then-President Donald Trump would have had a chance to object to the operation, but U.S. officials have not publicly detailed any authorization or objections.
Qatar, which has hosted a Hamas political bureau since 2012 and played a central role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel since the October 2023 attacks, said the strike hit a residential building and violated Qatari sovereignty. Qatari authorities and diplomats summoned Israeli representatives and called for international action, according to Qatari statements.
The timing of the strike coincided with ongoing mediation efforts. Hamas had said in recent days that it welcomed "some ideas" from the United States about a possible Gaza ceasefire, received through mediators, and was discussing how to convert them into a comprehensive agreement. A Palestinian official told the BBC that a U.S.-backed plan discussed in talks would see the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza freed within the first 48 hours of a proposed 60-day truce in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.
Analysts and diplomats said the strike on Qatari soil carries potential diplomatic repercussions, particularly for the U.S. presence at al-Udeid and relations between Washington and its Gulf Arab partners. Qatar's condemnation framed the attack as a violation of international law; Israeli officials defended the operation as a targeted measure against individuals they hold responsible for attacks on Israeli civilians.
At the time of publication, there was no independent verification of casualties or a complete list of those targeted. Regional governments, international organisations and foreign embassies were monitoring developments and assessing the diplomatic fallout. Further details on the strike's victims, the legal and diplomatic responses and any impact on mediation efforts were expected to emerge in coming hours and days.