DOHA, Qatar (Dispatches) -- In a dramatic and unprecedented strike on Tuesday, Israeli air forces targeted a meeting of senior Hamas officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha, marking the first openly acknowledged Israeli attack on the soil of a Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state. 
Despite the intensity of the airstrikes—reportedly around 12 separate attacks on residential buildings—the key Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, Khaled Meshaal, and Zaher Jabarin, survived the assault.
The meeting, held to discuss the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza, was struck at approximately 4 pm local time. The air raids killed six people, including Hammam al-Hayya, son of senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, and Jihad Lubbad, his office director, as well as a Qatari security officer. 
Several others were wounded. The Israeli military confirmed responsibility for the attack, stating it specifically targeted Hamas’s senior leadership.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes as a “cowardly Israeli attack,” calling it a “blatant violation of all international laws and norms” and a serious threat to the security and sovereignty of Qatar. The ministry emphasized that it will not tolerate such reckless actions and announced a high-level investigation is underway.
The attack also drew widespread condemnation from the United Nations and regional powers including Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
What makes the strike particularly alarming is its geopolitical context. Qatar hosts the U.S. Central Command’s regional headquarters at al-Udeid Air Base, which houses over 8,000 American personnel. 
Israeli media reported that the airstrikes were pre-coordinated with the U.S. administration, with Channel 12 stating that President Donald Trump approved the operation, although the Israeli prime minister’s office asserted the attack was an “independent Israeli operation.”
The incident has shattered assumptions about the limits of Israeli military aggression and exposed the deep entanglement between Israel and the U.S. in regional wars. 
The fact that Israel would strike on Qatari soil—a country long considered a mediator and ally to the U.S.—raises serious questions about Washington’s role and its ability to protect its regional partners.
Hamas portrayed the attack as an attempt to decapitate its political leadership ahead of ceasefire talks. The survival of senior figures reinforces the resilience of the Palestinian resistance movement despite Israel’s sustained military campaigns, including the devastating siege and bombing of Gaza over recent months.
The attack on Doha represents a dangerous escalation in a broader regional conflict where Israel has launched strikes in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and even near Tunisia in recent days. This widening campaign, often enabled or quietly endorsed by the U.S., highlights Israel’s aggressive policy of expansion and its disregard for international norms.
Regional experts warn that the strike could unify Persian Gulf Cooperation Council countries, historically divided by rivalries and disputes, in shared condemnation of Israel’s actions. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, which recently normalized relations with Israel, have publicly expressed outrage at the violation of Qatari sovereignty, signaling potential shifts in Persian Gulf dynamics.
For Qatar, the attack has shattered its sense of security. While it boasts advanced air defense systems and a close partnership with the U.S., Israeli forces reportedly used weapons that Qatar’s radar failed to detect. 
Qatar’s foreign minister has dismissed claims that the U.S. warned Doha in advance, stating information came only after the strike had begun.
The incident underscores growing frustration in the Arab world over Washington’s unwavering support for Israel, despite repeated violations of Arab sovereignty and widespread civilian suffering in Palestinian territories. 
Critics argue that U.S. policies have emboldened Israel to escalate violence without accountability, leaving Palestinians trapped under occupation and siege.