We’ll Get Them Next Time : Israel’s Doha Strike on Hamas Leaders Sparks Global Outrage

Doha/Jerusalem – In a dramatic escalation of the Gaza conflict, Israel launched an airstrike in Qatar’s capital Doha on Tuesday, targeting senior Hamas political leaders. The strike killed several people, including the son of top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, but key figures in the group’s leadership reportedly survived.

Following the attack, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, defended the operation, declaring: “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them the next time. Israel is being changed for the better.”

The Strike and Its Fallout

The attack hit a residential compound in Doha’s West Bay Lagoon district, where Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting to discuss a proposed ceasefire deal.

Hamas confirmed the deaths of six individuals – among them Humam al-Hayya (son of Khalil al-Hayya), an aide, three bodyguards, and one Qatari security officer. However, senior figures such as Khalil al-Hayya himself and exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal were not killed.

Qatar strongly condemned the strike, calling it “state terrorism” and accusing Israel of a treacherous violation of sovereignty. The strike occurred even as Qatar was hosting delicate negotiations aimed at ending nearly two years of war in Gaza.

Diplomatic Shockwaves

The unprecedented attack on Qatari soil, a key U.S. ally and mediator in the conflict, sent shockwaves across the Middle East and beyond.

• Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia announced visits to Doha in solidarity with Qatar.

• China condemned the strike, accusing Israel of fueling instability and criticizing what it described as biased U.S. policies in the region.

• European Union officials expressed concern that the strike would undermine fragile ceasefire negotiations.

Global Leaders Respond

While Israel insisted the operation was necessary to pursue Hamas “wherever they hide,” international criticism mounted:

• U.S. President Donald Trump, typically a strong backer of Israel, admitted he was “very unhappy about every aspect” of the Doha strike and questioned its strategic value.

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a reckless act that undermined stability and breached Qatar’s sovereignty, stressing that renewed diplomatic focus was urgently needed.

• At the United Nations, Arab states demanded accountability, while Israel’s envoy warned bluntly that “there will be no safe haven for Hamas—not in Gaza, not in Lebanon, and not in Qatar.”

The War in Gaza Intensifies

The strike in Doha coincided with Israel’s warnings for Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City, ahead of what it called a decisive operation to destroy remaining Hamas strongholds.

Israeli warplanes also fired missiles at a 12-story building in Gaza City, killing at least 15 displaced civilians living in nearby tents despite prior evacuation warnings. Across Gaza on Wednesday alone, over 30 people were killed, according to local medics.

The humanitarian toll of the war remains staggering. Since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, Israel’s response has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. The enclave faces widespread starvation, mass displacement, and near-total destruction.

Ceasefire Prospects in Jeopardy

Hamas reiterated that it is willing to release all hostages if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has demanded an “all-or-nothing” deal involving the release of all hostages and Hamas’s complete surrender.

Diplomats fear the Doha airstrike has now severely damaged chances for any ceasefire, with regional leaders openly questioning whether negotiations can continue.

A Defining Moment

The Doha operation marks a turning point: Israel has extended its campaign beyond Gaza’s borders, striking in a Gulf state that has long mediated peace efforts. While Israel frames it as a bold step to eliminate Hamas leadership, critics warn it could unleash new waves of instability across the Middle East and permanently derail the already fragile hope of peace.