Israel strikes Hamas leaders sheltering in Qatar

INTERNATIONAL  -ASIA

10 SEPTEMBER 2025

• Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas’s leadership in Qatar as they considered a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
• The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages.
• Qatar, an energy-rich U.S. ally hosting thousands of American troops, has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas for several years, even before the war.
• It condemned what it referred to as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms” as smoke rose over its capital, Doha.
• Hamas said in a statement its top leaders survived the strike but five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya — Hamas’s leader for Gaza and its top negotiator — and the head of al-Hayya’s office.
• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying “all parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”
• The Israel military said it used “precise munitions and additional intelligence” in the strike, without elaborating. An Israeli official confirmed the strike targeted Hamas.