Israeli Strikes in Qatar Leave Six Dead, Draw Rare Trump Rebuke

The war between Israel and Hamas spilled into unexpected territory this week when Israeli air strikes hit the Qatari capital, Doha, killing six people and leaving the region reeling. For the first time since the war began in October 2023, Israel has attacked a Gulf state and the backlash has been immediate, from the United Nations to the White House.

What Happened in Doha

The strikes targeted the homes of Hamas political bureau members living in Qatar, according to officials. Hamas confirmed that six people were killed, including the son of top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, his aide, and three bodyguards. Qatar’s interior ministry added that a member of its security forces was killed, with others wounded.

Despite the heavy losses, Hamas insisted that its senior leaders had survived. Israel said the operation was retaliation for a Jerusalem shooting a day earlier that killed six people and was claimed by Hamas.

Qatar’s Anger and a “Pivotal Moment”

Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, called the attack a turning point:

“We believe that today we have reached a pivotal moment. There must be a response from the entire region to such barbaric actions.”

For Qatar, the strikes were more than a violation of sovereignty, they were a direct attack on its role as a mediator in the war. The Gulf nation, which hosts a major US military base, has been central in ceasefire talks alongside Egypt and the United States.

Trump’s Rare Break with Israel

Perhaps the most surprising fallout came from President Donald Trump, who openly rebuked Israela rare move for a White House that has consistently backed the country.

While Trump called eliminating Hamas “a worthy goal,” his press secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed that striking a US ally “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”

The White House said Trump ordered envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar in advance of the strikes, but Qatari officials say the call came as explosions were already shaking Doha.

On social media, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari accused Washington of failing to protect its ally:

“The call received from an American official came as explosions sounded from the Israeli attack.”

Global Condemnation

The strikes sparked international outrage:

• UN chief Antonio Guterres called it a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty.

• Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul warned it jeopardised hostage negotiations.

• In Israel, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the attack deepened families’ fears that loved ones held in Gaza may now pay the price.

Even analysts were blunt. Muhammad Shehada, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, argued:

“Israel knows exactly what it just did. It just killed the negotiations and any chance of getting its hostages back.”

What This Means for the Region

This is the first time Israel has struck inside Qatar, a Western-backed Gulf monarchy and key regional power. It signals an escalation that could redraw the boundaries of the Israel-Hamas war, dragging in countries that until now have served as neutral mediators.

Despite the loss, Qatar vowed not to abandon its efforts:

“Nothing will deter us from continuing this mediation in the region,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

But many fear the strikes may have already derailed fragile truce talks and made the release of Israeli hostages far less likely.

South African and Regional Context

South Africans following the war have drawn parallels to sovereignty violations in Africa, where foreign interference has often destabilised peace efforts. On local social media, some users voiced support for Qatar’s defiance, while others worried the attack could fuel a wider regional war, dragging in US forces stationed in the Gulf.

For a region where every diplomatic bridge is precious, Israel’s strike in Doha may prove to be one bridge too far.

{Source: IOL}

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