Smoke billowing after explosions in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on 9 September, 2025.
Photo: Jacqueline Penney / AFPTV / AFP
Israel’s military says it has conducted a strike targeting senior Hamas leaders, as Qatar condemned an attack on buildings housing members of the Palestinian militant movement in the capital.
Qatar said Israeli strikes on Tuesday (local time) targeted the homes of several members of Hamas’s political bureau residing in the Gulf country, where the militant group’s senior leadership is based.
A Hamas official in Gaza told AFP the group’s negotiators had been “targeted” in Doha.
A video journalist working with AFP in Doha saw a plume of smoke rising from behind a low-rise building.
New Zealand journalist recounts attack – RNZ
RNZ correspondent Alex Baird, on the ground in Doha, told First Up he “absolutely” felt the attack.
“These weren’t just bombs from a drone. Israel flew jet fighters over Doha and dropped bombs into a residential area which is around five to six minutes drive from where my apartment is.
“So I was actually in my apartment and then… thought there must be some pile-driving going on and it reminded me a bit – I’m from Christchurch – of the Christchurch quakes.
“But at the same time you are hearing these huge, huge booms, boom, boom and at the same time the walls are shaking.
“And then you go outside and we saw this huge plume of smoke. And in the middle of this residential area where this happened there are schools, there are nurseries…”
Baird said five people were killed in the attack.
“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organisation’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal 7 October (2023) massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Qatar condemned the attack, saying it had targeted residential buildings housing Hamas political bureau members.
“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the political bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a post on X.
Tuesday’s strikes come less than two weeks after Israel’s armed forces chief vowed to target the group’s leaders based abroad.
“Most of Hamas’s leadership is abroad, and we will reach them as well,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on 31 August.
‘Gross violation’ – AFP
Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar has led multiple rounds of efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by the Palestinian militants’ unprecedented 7 October, 2023 attack.
Despite sealing two temporary truces, the successive rounds of talks have failed to bring a lasting end to the war.
“May all your enemies perish, Israel,” Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar wrote on X on Tuesday (local time).
“US citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates,” the US embassy posted on X.
Iran, a key backer of Hamas, condemned the attack as a “gross violation of all international rules and regulations, a violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an attack on Palestinian negotiators”.
The attack came as Israel stepped up a deadly assault on Gaza City, the Palestinian territory’s largest urban centre.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement addressing residents of the city: “I say to the residents: you have been warned, leave now!
“All of this is just a prelude, just the opening, to the main intensified operation — the ground manoeuvre of our forces, who are now organising and assembling to enter Gaza City,” he said.
‘Blatant attack’ a pivotal moment for region
Qatar’s prime minister says Qatar reserves the right to respond to the Israeli attack.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a press conference Qatar would continue trying to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza despite Israel’s attack in Doha.
“Nothing will deter us from continuing this mediation in the region,” he told reporters.
It was a pivotal moment for the region, he said.
“Qatar… reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack.
“We believe that today we have reached a pivotal moment. There must be a response from the entire region to such barbaric actions,” he added.
– AFP / RNZ