The conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached a new and unprecedented level, with Israel’s military announcing it carried out an airstrike targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar.
The attack, which struck the heart of Qatar’s capital city, Doha, has been confirmed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as a targeted operation aimed at neutralising the group’s senior command.
According to a statement from the IDF, the operation was executed with precision to hit a key location used by the Hamas leadership, which has long been based in the Gulf nation.
Eyewitnesses and news outlets in Doha reported hearing multiple large explosions that rocked the city on Sunday evening, marking a dramatic escalation of the conflict beyond the borders of Gaza.
The strike in Doha comes as Israeli forces continue an intense military campaign inside the Gaza Strip. In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged residents of Gaza to “leave now,” signalling that the ongoing offensive would continue with even greater force and scope.
The message, broadcast on Al Jazeera’s live blog, underscored the government’s determination to dismantle Hamas’s military and political infrastructure, regardless of its location.
The decision to carry out an airstrike in Qatar is a significant and bold move by Israel. Doha has long served as a key mediator in the conflict, and a strike on its soil could jeopardise diplomatic channels and further destabilise the Middle East.
While the full extent of the damage and casualties from the Doha strike remains unconfirmed, the event is set to have far-reaching political consequences.
The attack has been widely reported by multiple sources, including the Times of Israel, which cited the IDF’s official statement, and the Associated Press, which confirmed that multiple explosions were heard in Doha.
Qatar has yet to release an official statement on the matter, but the attack on its capital city represents a dangerous new phase in the conflict.
