An Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday has drawn international condemnation and thrown ceasefire negotiations into turmoil. The attack targeted Hamas members who were in the Qatari capital for mediation talks, leading Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, to accuse Israel of “state terror” and of having “killed any hope” for the hostages still held in Gaza.
The strike killed six lower-ranked Hamas members and one Qatari security officer. The attack occurred as the Hamas delegation was reportedly meeting to discuss a new ceasefire proposal. In an interview, al-Thani stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “needs to be brought to justice” for the attack, which he said wasted Qatar’s efforts in mediating the conflict. In response, Netanyahu issued a defiant video statement, accusing Qatar of harbouring terrorists and asserting Israel’s right to future attacks.
The international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China, has condemned the Israeli strike in Doha. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the attack violated Qatar’s sovereignty and did “nothing to secure the peace”. The White House noted that the “unilateral bombing” does not advance US or Israeli goals.
SMread: Flotilla receives message of hope amid attacks
Regional and humanitarian crisis deepens
The attack has heightened tensions across the region. On Wednesday, Israel also conducted an airstrike in Yemen, targeting what Israeli Army Radio described as Houthi headquarters and military camps. This follows a previous Israeli strike in Yemen in late August that killed the Houthi prime minister.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions of starvation and death after 22 months of conflict. The Palestinian health ministry reported that at least five people, including one child, died of malnutrition in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday.
A United Nations-backed initiative has officially declared a “man-made” famine in parts of Gaza. The war has resulted in the deaths of over 64,000 Palestinians and left more than 150,000 injured.
The families of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza have expressed anxiety, with some accusing Netanyahu of sabotaging any chance for a deal to end the war. The deadly Israeli strike in Doha has led Qatar to state it will now reassess “everything” about its role as a key mediator in the long-running conflict.
Image: Arab Centre
