The Israeli military strike in the Qatari capital of Doha, which targeted Hamas leadership, has triggered a wave of furious condemnation from Arab nations and a diplomatic crisis that has united traditional rivals against Israel. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, both of which have been normalizing relations with Israel, have issued strong denunciations of the attack. The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), went so far as to affirm his country’s “readiness to deploy all capabilities to support Qatar.”
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, calling it “blatant and cowardly.” However, the most significant reaction has come from Saudi Arabia. A senior Saudi official told Reuters that the Kingdom warns of “dire consequences” over Israel’s “persistence in criminal violations.” The Saudi statement is a major reversal of its recent policy of warming relations with Israel and signals that Riyadh views the attack on Qatar as a red line. The offer of support from MbS is particularly notable, as it represents an unprecedented level of public solidarity between Saudi Arabia and its rival, Qatar.
According to a senior Israeli official who spoke to the American news website Axios, the entire “Hamas A-list” was in the building when the bombs struck. This list reportedly includes the group’s most senior military and political leaders. The Israeli UN envoy also made a public statement on the matter, saying, “There is no hiding place for terrorists, we will continue to pursue them everywhere.” For its part, Turkey, a vocal critic of Israel, issued a statement from its Foreign Ministry saying, “Israel seeks war, not peace, using terrorism as state policy,” and affirmed its full support for Qatar.
A senior White House official told Axios that the Trump administration was briefed by Israel shortly before the strike. This revelation suggests that while the U.S. may not have been directly involved, it was aware of the operation beforehand, a detail that has been disputed in previous reports.
The strike in Doha has created a precarious and unpredictable situation. The condemnations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, along with the diplomatic break from Qatar, have left Israel diplomatically isolated in the Arab world. The attack is now seen as a major setback to the U.S.-led normalization efforts in the region and raises the prospect of a wider conflict.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
