Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s airstrike on Hamas
ceasefire negotiators in Doha as “barbaric” and accused him of killing all hope
for the release of hostages held in Gaza. The strike, which killed six people
including Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, has severely damaged
ceasefire prospects and prompted Qatar to reassess its mediation role with
regional partners.
Israeli Strike in Doha Escalates Regional Tensions
As reported by Emma Graham-Harrison of The Independent, the
Israeli military’s airstrike targeted Hamas ceasefire negotiators in Doha on 9
September 2025, killing six individuals including five Hamas members and a
member of Qatar's internal security forces. Sheikh Mohammed described the
attack as an act of “state terror” and said it has “just killed any hope” for
the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
In an interview with CNN, Sheikh Mohammed said,
“I was meeting one of the hostage's families the morning of the attack. They are counting on this mediation; they have no other hope for that.”
He condemned
Netanyahu’s actions as “barbaric” and said the attack was a betrayal of trust
for all parties involved in the mediation efforts.
Qatar’s Role in Gaza Ceasefire Mediation
Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, has been a key
mediator seeking a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel during the ongoing
23-month conflict. Hamas’ political bureau has been hosted in Doha since 2012
with Washington’s blessing, serving as a channel for negotiations.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed that Israel’s attack on Qatar’s
soil undermines the fragile peace efforts and complicates future dialogue. He
stated that Qatar is “reassessing everything” about its involvement in
ceasefire talks and is engaging in detailed consultations with the US
government and regional partners.
Netanyahu’s Warning and Qatar’s Response
Following the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning telling Qatar to either expel Hamas officials
or “bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will,” which Qatar labelled
as “reckless” and “irresponsible.” Qatar’s foreign ministry emphasized that the
Hamas office's presence in Doha was part of transparent mediation efforts
requested by both Israel and the US, and condemned Netanyahu’s threats as
violations of state sovereignty.
Dr Majed al-Ansari, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson
and adviser to the Prime Minister, called Netanyahu a “narcissistic saboteur-in-chief”
determined to sabotage peace efforts, saying his conduct is “unhinged” and
destructive to the region’s stability.
Impact on Hostage Release Prospects
The strike directly targeted Hamas leaders involved in
negotiating the release of around 48 hostages held in Gaza since the conflict
escalated in October 2023, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel,
killing over 1,200 people mostly civilians.
Sheikh Mohammed declared that Netanyahu’s actions destroyed any remaining hope for those hostages’ release.
“Netanyahu just killed any hope for those hostages… I was meeting one of the hostages' families the morning of the attack. They have no other hope for that,” he said.
Hamas stated five lower-ranking members were killed in the
strike, but that senior leaders, including chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya,
survived. However, the absence of official confirmation on al-Hayya’s status
adds uncertainty to the situation.
Broad Regional and International Fallout
The strike marked Israel’s first direct military attack on
Qatari territory, stirring alarm across the Gulf region and beyond. Sheikh
Mohammed announced plans to convene an Arab-Islamic summit in Doha to
coordinate a regional response aimed at deterring further Israeli aggression.
The airstrike has drawn widespread condemnation as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Qatar’s Prime Minister said Netanyahu is
“leading the Middle East toward chaos”
as the entire Gulf
region is now at risk.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza
has resulted in over 64,600 Palestinian deaths and widespread humanitarian
devastation. Both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant
face International Criminal Court arrest warrants for alleged war crimes in
Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of
Justice.
Future of Peace Efforts and Diplomatic Relations
Qatar’s leadership is now reconsidering its role and the feasibility of continuing ceasefire mediation amid these escalations. Sheikh Mohammed said Doha is in
“very detailed conversation”
with the US government
regarding its next steps, reflecting deep concern about the sustainability of
the peace process under current conditions.
Netanyahu’s aggressive posture and the Israeli strikes in the region have severely damaged trust between Israel and its Gulf neighbours, complicating diplomatic ties and increasing regional instability.