Doha was rocked by powerful explosions on Tuesday (September 9) after Israel launched airstrikes targeting senior Hamas leaders, according to Israeli sources.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attacks in a statement, though it did not specifically name Qatar.
The IDF said the strikes were aimed at several top Hamas figures accused of masterminding the October 7 attack on Israel and leading the ongoing war against the country.
Israeli media outlet Channel 12 reported that Hamas’s senior leader Khaled Mashal, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997, was among those attending the targeted meeting.
According to Al Jazeera, the meeting was convened to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned what it called a “criminal strike” by Israel.
Spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the attack struck a residential building housing members of Hamas’s political wing, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and norms, and a serious threat to the safety and security of Qatar’s citizens and residents.
He warned that Israel’s “reckless behavior” and its continued disregard for regional stability would not be tolerated.
Al Ansari further stressed that Qatar would resist any attempt to undermine its sovereignty or security.
He added that a high-level investigation into the attack was underway and that more details would be released once available.
