Multiple powerful blasts shook Qatar’s capital Doha on Tuesday afternoon, with Israeli officials confirming the explosions were part of a targeted assassination attempt against senior Hamas leaders, marking an unprecedented escalation in Israel’s campaign against the Palestinian militant organisation.
At least six powerful explosions were heard across the Katara district in central Doha, with smoke seen rising over the cultural quarter, sending shockwaves through the normally peaceful Gulf state that has served as a key mediator in the ongoing Gaza conflict. The strikes represent the first known Israeli military operation on Qatari soil, potentially jeopardising the emirate’s crucial role in hostage negotiations.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israeli Security Agency (ISA) confirmed they “conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of Hamas”, according to an official military statement released shortly after the explosions. The operation marks a dramatic departure from Israel’s previous restraint regarding operations in Qatar, a major US ally that hosts American military forces at the Al-Udeid Air Base.
Israeli Officials Confirm Hamas Target
A senior Israeli official, speaking to N12, the Israeli media outlet known for its government connections, provided stark confirmation of the operation’s intent. The target of the operation was apparently a single explosion carried out at the headquarters of the Hamas terrorist organisation, targeting senior figures in the organisation,” the official stated, though multiple witnesses reported hearing several distinct blasts.
The IDF spokesman elaborated on the military’s justification for the unprecedented strike. For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organisation’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel,” the spokesman declared.
Israeli forces claimed that “measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence” before conducting the operation. However, the strikes in a densely populated cultural district of Qatar’s capital raise serious questions about civilian casualties and collateral damage.
Hamas Leadership in Qatar Under Threat
Hamas leaders have been based in Qatar since leaving Syria in 2011, following agreements with Doha and between the US and Israel on conditions for their stay. The political bureau’s most senior figures, including deputy chairman Khalil al-Hayya, have operated from the Gulf state with tacit international acceptance due to Qatar’s mediating role.
Al-Hayya, who served as deputy to slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, left Gaza shortly before the October 7 attack and has since mostly been based in Qatar, where he has led Hamas’s negotiating team for ceasefire and hostage-release deals. His presence in Doha, along with other senior Hamas officials, has made the Qatari capital a nexus of Palestinian political leadership in exile.
The timing of the strikes is particularly significant, coming as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani pressed Hamas political leaders on Sunday to “respond positively” to the latest US-proposed Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal, according to officials briefed on the talks.
Strategic Implications for Regional Stability
Security experts suggest the operation represents a fundamental shift in Israeli strategy. For years, Israeli officials had treated Qatar as essentially off-limits for targeted operations, recognising the emirate’s unique position as both a Hamas host and crucial mediator. Qatar and Turkey definitely have an unofficial immunity in terms of going after Hamas leadership in their territory,” a person familiar with Israeli government thinking had previously told NBC News.
The Katara district, where the explosions occurred, is one of Doha’s most prominent cultural quarters. The cultural village, established in 2010, features art galleries, theatres, concert halls, and is positioned between West Bay and the Pearl residential neighbourhood, making it a highly visible location for such an operation.
Former intelligence officials have long warned about the complexities of conducting operations in Qatar. “You can’t go anywhere in the UAE or Qatar without being surveilled,” noted Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst, highlighting the sophisticated surveillance systems that make clandestine operations extremely challenging.
International Condemnation Expected
The strikes are likely to trigger widespread international condemnation and could severely complicate ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. Qatar has served as the primary mediator between Israel and Hamas, with Doha hosting numerous rounds of indirect negotiations.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had threatened last month to assassinate senior Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Doha, signalling a potential shift in Israeli policy towards operations in the Gulf state. The threats had sparked speculation about whether Israel would risk damaging its relationship with a key regional mediator.
The operation comes as the Gaza war approaches its eleventh month, with over 64,000 Palestinians killed according to Hamas-run health ministry figures, and approximately 48 Israeli hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, with 20 thought to be alive.
Qatar’s Delicate Position
Qatar’s hosting of Hamas leadership has long been a source of tension, despite occurring with US approval. In November 2024, Qatar had told Hamas it must close its diplomatic office in Doha following a US request, though the directive was later reversed after negotiations stalled without Qatari involvement.
The emirate’s foreign ministry has yet to issue an official response to Tuesday’s strikes, but the operation places Qatar in an extremely difficult position. As host to the largest US military base in the Middle East and a key regional mediator, any Israeli military action on Qatari soil threatens to undermine Doha’s carefully maintained neutrality.
Defence analysts suggest the operation could mark a new phase in Israel’s campaign against Hamas leadership. Since October 2023, Israel has systematically targeted senior Hamas figures, including the assassination of political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024 and military commander Yahya Sinwar in Gaza in October 2024.
Escalation Risks
The strikes risk triggering a broader regional escalation at a time when multiple diplomatic initiatives are underway to end the Gaza conflict. The IDF statement concluded with a vow that Israeli forces “will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organisation responsible for the October 7 massacre.
Hamas has not yet issued an official response to the strikes, but the organisation has previously warned that targeting its leadership in Qatar would “complicate cease-fire negotiations” and potentially end any chance of securing the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
The operation represents the most significant Israeli military action in a Gulf state and could fundamentally alter the dynamics of the ongoing conflict. With Qatar’s role as mediator now potentially compromised, the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Gaza war appear increasingly remote.
As smoke continued to rise over Doha’s skyline on Tuesday evening, the full implications of this unprecedented operation were only beginning to become clear. The strikes mark not just an escalation in Israel’s campaign against Hamas, but potentially a watershed moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics that could reshape regional alliances and mediation efforts for years to come.
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