Israel Targets Hamas Leadership in Qatar’s Capital Doha
IDF says “a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.”
Israel conducted airstrikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar. “The explosion in Qatar’s capital of Doha is the result of an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in the city, unnamed senior Israeli officials tell Hebrew media,” The Times of Israel reports Tuesday noon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shortly afterward confirmed that a strike was carried out against senior Hamas terrorists responsible for the October 7 attack.
Media reports suggest strikes against multiple targets in Doha’s Qatara neighborhood. “Several blasts were heard in Qatar’s Doha on Tuesday,” Reuters reported, quoting eyewitnesses. According to the Associated Press, “Black smoke rose over the skyline of the Qatari capital, Doha, with authorities there acknowledging the strike.”
The Arab Gulf state of Qatar is home to top Hamas leadership outside Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya, Khaled Mashal, and others were seen celebrating the massacre at their Doha command center.
Left: Hamas in Doha, October 7th
Right: Hamas in Doha, September 9th pic.twitter.com/B5vmjpvRQb— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) September 9, 2025
Saudi media: Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, Khaled Mashal eliminated
Top five Hamas leaders, including Al-Hayya and Mashal, were eliminated in the strike, initial Arab media reports says.
The Israel National News/Arutz Sheva reports:
Five senior Hamas officials, including the terrorist organization’s leader, Khaled Mashal, were at a meeting together in the Qatari capital of Doha when the IDF launched an airstrike targeting the meeting this afternoon (Tuesday), the Saudi Al Hadath network reported. Mashal and at least three other senior officials were reportedly killed in the airstrike.
BREAKING: IDF targets senior Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar. Saudi sources are reporting that Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya was eliminated pic.twitter.com/ouKuXCWBYu
— Brooke Goldstein (@GoldsteinBrooke) September 9, 2025
The strike came nearly ten days after IDF chief of staff, Major-General Eyal Zamir, issued a warning to Hamas leadership hiding abroad. “This is not the end, most of Hamas’s leadership is abroad, and we will reach them as well,” the IDF chief warned shortly after the elimination of senior Hamas terrorist Abu Obeida in Gaza.
Without mentioning Qatar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the decision to strike against Hamas leaders was Israel’s alone, dispelling media speculations regarding the United States’ role.
“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” the statement said. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke about today’s strike at a U.S. event:
WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Remarks at a US Embassy US Independence Day Event https://t.co/dGT8mPjaZw
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 9, 2025
Prime Minister Netanyahu was at the Shin Bet’s headquarters at the time of the strike, the BBC reported:
Israel’s security agency Shin Bet says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was at the department’s headquarters when the Hamas delegation was struck in Doha, Qatar.
The attack against “the top leadership” of Hamas was coordinated between the agency and Israel’s military, a spokesperson for Shin Bet says.
Defence Minister Israel Katz, the security agency’s deputy chief and the head of military intelligence were also present at the headquarters, they add.
Prime Minister's Office:
Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation.
Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 9, 2025
The strike was in response to Monday’s Hamas-backed terror attack in which six people were gunned down by terrorists in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office disclosed in a separate statement:
Yesterday, after the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed all security elements to prepare for the possibility of striking the Hamas leadership. The Defense Minister fully supported this initiative.
This afternoon, in light of an operational opportunity, and in consultation with all security establishment heads, and with full backing, the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister decided to implement the directive that was given last night to the IDF and the ISA, which did so with precision and in an optimal manner.
The Prime Minister and the Defense Minister believed that the action was fully justified given the fact that it was this Hamas leadership that initiated and organized the October 7 massacre, and – since then – has not ceased from launching murderous operations against the State of Israel and its citizens, including taking responsibility for the murder of our citizens in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem.
Yesterday, after the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed all security elements to prepare for the possibility of striking the Hamas leadership. The Defense Minister fully supported this initiative.https://t.co/dQDySUqQJv
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 9, 2025
The operation was jointly conducted by the IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA), also known as Shin Bet. The IDF disclosed the details of the strike in a statement:
The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.
For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7th massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel.
Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence.
The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7th massacre.
The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.
For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 9, 2025
Israel may have conferred with President Donald Trump ahead of the operation. “Israeli media reported Donald Trump “gave the green light” for these strikes, which Israel says targeted Hamas leadership,” Sky News (UK) reported.
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Comments
qatar..but but we’re pretend friends
Nicely put. Cornell has a medical school there.
https://qatar-weill.cornell.edu/
So, just as much a friend as Cornell? Well, that says a lot.
President Trump should threaten to pull the US base out of Qatar if it continues funding Hamas and continues providing a safe haven* to the Hamas leadership.
.*Now, not so safe.
watch out for hamas style attack on us base and they try and blame israel
Pulling out of Qatar would be a huge endeavor. There’s a LOT of structure there for running wars in the ME.
The U.S. should have given the Qatari regime an ultimatum, post-10/7 — hand over all Hamas leadership residing under the protection of Qatar, and, cease all funding of Islamic terrorism, or see Qater reduced to ash.
It’s about time. Now do Turkey!
I would love to see Erdogan replaced with someone sane.
probably just another
turkey
They really do need a modern day Kamal Attaturk!!
Don’t burn your bridges.
So…
Israel did this to Hezbollah after the Golden Beeper thing – get some big wigs to meet up and blow ’em up.
Israel did this to some of the Iranian (I think it was air defense) leadership before the big thwacking – got them to have an in-person meeting and KABLOOIE!.
Israel then did it to the Houthis a few weeks ago – get them all together and BOOM!
And nobody in Qatar said “Hey guys, why don’t we make this a ZOOM meeting?” (Instead of a BOOM meeting.) There are definite advantages to working remotely.
SSshhhhhhhh
I’m sure Mossad can listen in on zoom meetings.
I’ve thought since the Syrian attacks, that the Gulf states have decided to look the other way and let Israel finish Hamas. They must be tired of being associated with terrorism, and they still get to blame Israel.
Perhaps they are playing the long strategic game. Sure they will come out and say mean things about teh juices for local consumption to keep the masses happy while at the same time talking to the juices on the side about finishing Hamas and ending Iran.
Oh, and the anti-Israel crowd is out there crying about “assassination attempts!”
First, it wasn’t an attempt. *Ahem* It succeeded.
Second, the idea that assassination is somehow immoral and therefore verboten is entirely a construct of the post-WW2 Progressive foreign policy bullcarp. The one that includes “You must not wage real war; and if you must, then you should not actually win” and such. If it’s ok to kill a few people to end the war, then why shouldn’t it be those running it?
“ First, it wasn’t an attempt. *Ahem* It succeeded.”
😂😂😂
Apparently they met to consider Trump’s cease file proposal. Having gotten them all in one place, Trump and Israel wiped them out. In question is whether Qatar was in on the ruse or not.
I hope Israel realises there is no deal to be made with Hamas for the hostages to be returned alive. Of they aren’t dead already then they are not long for this world.
“Apparently?” And what, pray tell, are you basing that on? Let me guess… they said that’s why they met?
… as my Qatar gently weeps.
No safe harbor for terrorists seems like a good policy IMO. Obviously any Nation in which terrorists reside will not be in favor of their territorial integrity being violated by another Nation conducting strikes. It’s always been a possibility and now Israel is steadily turning it into an expectation as the cost of hosting terrorists.
I would have done the same. You do what you have to do.
Agreeing to negotiations and then launching an attack (largely unsuccessful) on the negotiators for the other party?
“It is worse than a crime; it is a mistake.” – Talleyrand
Legal Insurrection continues to lose credibility on Israel through its one-sided reporting. Hamas is evil enough without having to overlook Israel’s faux pas.