Israel has defended its airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar, despite strong criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The attacks, launched on Tuesday, killed at least six people, including the son of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, according to the militant group. Qatar also confirmed the death of one of its security officers.
Speaking on Israeli radio, Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon said the operation was targeted strictly at Hamas, not Qatar.
“It was not an attack on Qatar; it was an attack on Hamas. We are not against Qatar or any Arab country, we are against a terrorist organisation,” Danon said.
He stressed that while Israel values U.S. support, it sometimes makes unilateral decisions. “We don’t always act in the interests of the United States,” he added.
Qatar, which hosts a major U.S. military base and has been central to ceasefire talks in Gaza, said it was not warned in advance despite U.S. claims to the contrary.
Hamas said the strikes failed to kill its senior leaders, including Hayya and former top leader Khaled Meshaal, who were reportedly in the targeted building. The group said three bodyguards and Hayya’s aide also died.
Qatar’s prime minister described the attack as a “pivotal moment” for the region and warned that the Gulf state reserved the right to respond.
Trump, speaking in Washington, distanced himself from the strikes.
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation,” he told reporters. “We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”
The U.S. president later wrote on social media that the strike was “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision” and not his own. While reaffirming Hamas as a “worthy target,” Trump insisted that Qatar remains a “strong ally and friend of the U.S.”
The attack comes amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault that killed 1,219 people in Israel. The conflict has since claimed more than 64,600 Palestinian lives, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.
Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, has been a key mediator in efforts to secure a truce and negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
