US President Donald Trump has expressed concern after Israel carried out an airstrike in Qatar, killing several Hamas members. Trump said he was “not thrilled” about the action, warning that it risked undermining efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
The strike, which hit residential buildings in Doha’s Katara district, killed at least five Hamas figures, including relatives of senior leaders. Hamas claimed that Israel attempted to assassinate its negotiating team, which had been meeting to discuss a new US ceasefire proposal.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was unhappy with the strike. “We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way this went down today,” he said. He later called the Emir of Qatar to assure him that such an incident should not happen again on Qatari soil.
The White House confirmed that the US had prior knowledge of the attack. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington warned Doha moments before the strike. She added that Trump directed his envoy to alert Qatari officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, calling it “fully justified.” He said it targeted Hamas leaders who planned the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. Israeli security services confirmed they carried out a “precise strike” on senior Hamas officials. Reports from Israeli media said 15 fighter jets launched 10 missiles within seconds, hitting the compound.
Netanyahu said the action was ordered after deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza killed ten Israelis earlier this week. He argued that Hamas leaders abroad continued to plot attacks against Israel and must be stopped.
Qatar, a close US ally that hosts a major American air base, condemned the strike. Its government described the attack as a “cowardly crime” and a “violation of international law.” One Qatari security officer was killed and several others were injured in the explosions. The Gulf state has long hosted Hamas’s political bureau and has acted as a mediator in negotiations between Israel and the group. Officials said targeting Hamas leaders on Qatari soil endangered both civilians and regional diplomacy.
Hamas called the strike a “heinous crime” and accused Israel of trying to sabotage ceasefire talks. The group said five of its members were killed, including the son of senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. However, it claimed the attempt to assassinate its leadership failed. The group also blamed Washington, saying US support for Israel made it “jointly responsible” for the attack. Hamas insisted it remained committed to the latest ceasefire proposal, despite the strike.
Global leaders condemned Israel’s action. UN Secretary General António Guterres said the strike violated Qatar’s sovereignty and undermined peace efforts. He praised Qatar’s mediation role and urged all parties to focus on securing a truce and hostage release. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack “unacceptable regardless of motive.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of the risk of wider regional escalation. Saudi Arabia also denounced the strike, while Pope Leo XIV described the situation as “very serious.”
Families of hostages in Gaza voiced deep fears. Some accused the Israeli government of jeopardizing their loved ones’ lives by striking Hamas negotiators. Opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded assurances that the attack would not endanger hostages further.
The strike comes amid ongoing efforts to end the Gaza war, which has already claimed more than 64,000 lives, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders over the past two years, including Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. On Monday, Israel’s defense minister warned Hamas leaders abroad that they faced annihilation if the group refused to release hostages and disarm. Hamas had said it was still reviewing Trump’s ceasefire plan, which includes a 60-day truce and prisoner exchanges.
Speaking in Jerusalem after the Qatar strike, Netanyahu insisted the action could “open the door to an end of the war.” He urged Gazans to push for peace, claiming Israel had already accepted the US proposal.
For now, however, the Israel Qatar strike Hamas has deepened tensions across the region, raising doubts about whether peace talks can move forward.
