Israel struck Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Tuesday, in missile attacks that it said were aimed at senior leaders of Hamas, including negotiators from the Palestinian group who have been engaged in talks on securing a ceasefire in Gaza.
Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of international law and of its sovereignty, with multiple countries and blocs also lashing out at Israel.
The attack came at a time when Qatar, one of the lead mediators between Israel and the United States, on the one hand, and Hamas on the other, had been trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 64,600 people since October 2023, when it launched a war on the Palestinian enclave.
Here is what we know so far about Israel’s strikes on Tuesday:
What happened in Qatar?
On Tuesday, around 3pm local time (12:00 GMT), multiple explosions were heard in Doha, and dark plumes of smoke rose above the skyline.
People reported hearing the explosions in neighbourhoods across the city. They were also audible at Al Jazeera’s office in the city.
Soon after 4pm local time (13:00 GMT), Israel’s military confirmed that it had fired missiles into Doha, targeting a compound believed to be hosting Hamas political leaders. Shortly after, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack.
This is the first time that Israel has attacked Qatar, a country its own negotiators have visited repeatedly over the past two years for ceasefire talks mediated by the government in Doha.
Where in Qatar did the attack take place?
The attack took place in the West Bay Lagoon area in Doha, home to many foreign embassies, schools, supermarkets and compounds housing Qataris as well as residents from around the world.
What has Hamas said?
A Hamas official told Al Jazeera Arabic that the attack targeted Hamas ceasefire negotiators. The attack came as negotiators from Hamas were meeting to consider the latest ceasefire proposal put forth by the US.
Suhail al-Hindi, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, confirmed that the group’s leadership, which was targeted in Doha, had survived the attack.
Among those believed to have been targeted were senior leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal.
But al-Hayya’s son, Humam, and one of his top aides, were killed in the attack, al-Hindi told Al Jazeera. Contact had also been lost with three bodyguards, he said.
“The blood of the leadership of the movement is like the blood of any Palestinian child,” al-Hindi said.
What do we know about casualties?
In addition to al-Hayya’s son, Humam, and an aide, Qatar confirmed late in the evening that at least one Qatari security official had died in the attack. Other members of Qatar’s security forces were wounded, the country’s Interior Ministry said.
“Specialised crews are continuing to inspect and secure the targeted area with the explosives division of the internal security forces,” the ministry said in a statement.
Hamas said six people had been killed in all.
What has Israel said?
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released an X post on Tuesday stating that Israel had acted alone.
“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” the post read.
“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Netanyahu and Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, issued a joint statement justifying the attack and tying it to the shooting in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday in which six Israelis were killed.
“The prime minister and defense minister believed the operation was completely justified in light of the fact that this Hamas leadership initiated and organized the October 7 massacre, and has not ceased to launch murderous actions against the State of Israel and its citizens since then,” the statement said.
The strikes on Doha violate the United Nations Charter – breaching Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
But Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid lauded the attack in a social media post, saying: “Congratulating the Air Force, [Israeli army], Shin Bet and all security forces on an exceptional operation to thwart our enemies.”
The Israeli ambassador to the US suggested more attempts to eliminate Hamas leaders in Qatar or elsewhere would be made.
“If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them the next time,” Yechiel Leiter said during an interview with the Fox News “Special Report” programme late on Tuesday.
How have other Palestinian authorities reacted?
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, said the Israeli attack on Doha represents a “turning point that will have dangerous implications” for the Middle East.
“This operation is against Qatar, which is leading the mediation efforts, and against the Hamas leadership that is discussing the American proposal,” Barghouti said. “Is there worse shamelessness?”
How has Qatar reacted?
Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Minister, released a statement condemning the attack. “This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar,” the statement read.
“While strongly condemning this attack, the State of Qatar affirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and its continued tampering with regional security, as well as any action targeting its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they become available.”
What is the latest in Qatar?
Qatar’s Interior Ministry said the explosions heard in Doha were a result of an attack on Hamas residential headquarters.
“The ministry confirms that specialised teams are working [at the scene], and the situation is safe, and calls on everyone to obtain information from official sources,” it said in a social media post.
Qatar Airways confirmed in a statement that its flight operations have not been impacted.
The statement reads: “The recent unfortunate events in Doha have not impacted Qatar Airways operations and there have been no disruptions as a result. The safety and security of our passengers have been and will always be our top priority.”
The US Embassy in Qatar had issued a shelter-in-place order for its personnel. However, it lifted the order shortly afterwards.
Several countries have condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar. Some Arab leaders are visiting Qatar on Wednesday and Thursday in a show of solidarity.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry put out a statement saying it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the brutal Israeli aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the sisterly State of Qatar’. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to arrive in Doha on Thursday, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed official.
Riyadh also warned of the “grave consequences resulting from the Israeli occupation’s persistence in its criminal transgressions and its blatant violation of the principles of international law and all international norms”.
Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack revealed that Israel was not interested in an agreement to end the war on Gaza.
“The targeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation while ceasefire talks continue shows that Israel does not aim to reach peace, but rather continue the war,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry deemed the attack a “violation of international law”, Iranian media reported.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan released a statement expressing solidarity with Qatar, calling the attack “blatant and cowardly”. The UAE President arrived in Qatar on Wednesday.
Jordan also condemned the attack. Crown Prince Hussein was also expected to arrive in Qatar on Wednesday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a social media post: “This act of aggression by Israel is totally unjustified, a brazen violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, and constitutes a most dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a “flagrant violation” of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar.
Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, the Maldives, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, and the Gulf Cooperation Council also all condemned the attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X that the attack on Qatar was “unacceptable, whatever the reason may be”, expressing solidarity with Qatar’s emir. “War must under no circumstances spread in the region,” he added.
The United Kingdom warned against the “further escalation of violence” in the region and said that it had no prior knowledge of the attack.