Israeli Airstrike on Hamas Base in Qatar Sparks International Condemnation | WPN World People News

On the 9th, Israel launched an airstrike targeting a Hamas base located in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Israeli government claimed the strike aimed to eliminate Hamas leadership and members of its ceasefire negotiation team. The attack resulted in six deaths, five of whom were identified as members of Hamas.

Qatar has long positioned itself as a neutral mediator in international conflicts and has played a key role in brokering ceasefires between Israel and Hamas during periods of intense fighting. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani emphasized that Qatar "reserves the right to respond to this blatant aggression," calling the airstrike a "critical moment for the region." Despite what he described as a "blatant attack," he stated that Qatar would continue mediating efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

Qatar is a major U.S. ally in the Middle East and hosts the largest American military base in the region. Since 2012, with U.S. approval, it has also served as the political headquarters of Hamas. Regarding the attack, former President Donald Trump stated that he had tried to stop Israel from striking Qatar, but it was "too late." He stressed, "This was Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision, not mine." Trump added that after the Israeli strike, he spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, assuring him that "such incidents would not happen again on their territory."

The Israeli airstrike on Qatar has severely undermined Qatar's role as a mediator. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the attack was a "blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." France, the United Kingdom, and others also voiced opposition to Israel's actions, expressing concern that the incident could further destabilize the region.