Israel strikes Hamas leaders in Qatar, Trump says warning came too late
Donald Trump has condemned the bombing of the Hamas leadership in Qatar’s capital, as he announced the release of a student held captive for two years.
US President Donald Trump has spoken out in the wake of Israel’s strike on Hamas militants in Qatar.
Mr Trump revealed he moved immediately to inform Qatar of the incoming strike on Doha but that it was “too late.”
“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.
“I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack.”
Mr Trump said he viewed Qatar as a “strong ally and friend of the US” and he continues to “feel very badly” about the location of the attack.
The American leader moved to soothe tensions with Qatar.
“I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” Mr Trump said.
“I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalise the Defence Cooperation Agreement with Qatar.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the strike was a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.
“It undermines or potentially damages the possibility of ceasefire and the release of hostages, and obviously it risks escalation,” Senator Wong told Seven’s Sunrise.
“Qatar has been working with the United States to try and deliver a ceasefire and the return of hostages.
“They’ve been tireless in those negotiations – that’s the context in which this strike has occurred.”
Israel’s military said it carried out the air strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital Doha, the venue of multiple rounds of talks aimed at ending the Gaza war.
Qatar, which is also a key US ally, condemned the strikes which it said targeted the homes of several members of Hamas’s political bureau residing in the Gulf country, where the militant group’s senior leadership is based.
The strikes were carried out jointly by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency, the two bodies said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes in response to a shooting in Jerusalem that killed six people and was claimed by Hamas.
“Yesterday, following the deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all security agencies to prepare for the possibility of targeting Hamas leaders,” said a joint statement from Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
“Today … the prime minister and the defence minister decided to implement the directive given last night.”
Among the key Hamas leaders based in Qatar are lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal.
A White House official told AFP that Israel had notified the United States in advance about the strikes in Qatar, which is home to a large US military base.
But Mr Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli strikes were a “wholly independent” operation.
“The name of the operation in Doha is Summit of Fire. These were air strikes,” an Israeli military official told AFP.
Qatar condemned “the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the political bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a post on X.
It is the first time Israel has carried out air strikes in the Western-backed Gulf state.
Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar has led multiple attempts to end the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
🇶🇦 ALERTE - Israël vient de bombarder la capitale du Qatar, Doha, visant la délégation de négociation du Hamas et de hauts responsables.
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) September 9, 2025
Le Qatar condamne "l’attaque lâche" d'Israël, la qualifiant de "violation flagrante du droit international". pic.twitter.com/P6I0g5vppV
A Hamas official told Qatar’s Al Jazeera that its top negotiator’s son was among several people killed but that senior leaders survived.
“The Hamas leadership survived the cowardly assassination attempt,” Hamas political official Suhail al-Hindi told the broadcaster, adding that negotiator Khalil al-Hayya’s son and aide were among the dead.
Qatar’s interior ministry said a member of its internal security forces was killed in the Israeli strike.
“According to preliminary information, the attack resulted in the martyrdom of Corporal Bader Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari, a member of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya),” a statement said, adding that other security personnel were also wounded.
Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that “terrorist leaders” will not be safe anywhere anymore.
“The days when terrorist leaders can enjoy immunity anywhere are over,” Mr Netanyahu said at a US embassy event in Jerusalem, adding that he had ordered the operation “to settle accounts with the murderers, and to ensure the future security of the citizens of Israel”.
The strikes “are unacceptable regardless of motive”, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, adding that “the war must not be allowed to spread in the region”.
The Doha strikes come less than two weeks after Israel’s armed forces chief vowed to target Hamas leaders based abroad.
“Most of Hamas’s leadership is abroad, and we will reach them as well,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on August 31.
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HEZBOLLAH RELEASES HOSTAGE ‘TORTURED FOR MANY MONTHS’
Mr Trump revealed Hezbollah militants had released a hostage with ties to the US.
“I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months,” Mr Trump wrote to Truth Social.
“I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!”
‘UNFORTUNATE’: WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO ATTACK ON QATAR
Prior to Mr Trump commenting on the situation in Doha, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a carefully worded statement to the media.
“This morning the Trump administration was notified by the US military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar – a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace – does not advance Israel or America’s goals.
However, eliminating Hamas – who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza – is a worthy goal.
“President Trump immediately directed special envoy [Steve] Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did.
The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States, and feels very badly about the location of the attack.
President Trump wants all of the hostages and the bodies of the dead and this war to end now.
President Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. He told president Trump that he wants to make peace and quickly. President Trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.
The president also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their friendship to our country. He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
WORLD CONDEMNS ISRAELI STRIKE ON QATAR
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the attack risked “further escalation” in the volatile region.
“I condemn Israel’s strikes on Doha … The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza,” he posted on X.
“This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace.”
I condemn Israel’s strikes on Doha, which violate Qatar’s sovereignty and risk further escalation across the region.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 9, 2025
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The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza.
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This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace.
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, condemned Israel’s mission in the Qatari capital as “a blatant criminal act that violates all human standards and values, as well as the most basic international laws and norms”.
Witnesses described hearing several explosions, and photos showed smoke rising from a blast.
The strikes have drawn condemnation, including from UN chief Antonio Guterres, who condemned Israel’s “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty.
Iran, a key backer of Hamas, condemned the attack as a “gross violation of all international rules and regulations, a violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an attack on Palestinian negotiators”.
Western allies Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack, among others.
‘SHAMEFUL’: ACTIVISTS SLAM ATTACKS ON GRETA’S AID BOAT
Activists taking part in a controversial aid convoy bound for Gaza that was carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have described the alleged drone attack that hit one of its vessels as “shameful”.
Global Sumud Flotilla live streamed a press conference on Tuesday, where several members of the group spoke out against the injustices in Gaza.
One of the activists who spoke was a Portuguese national, who said he was on board the vessel known as the Family Boat, which was set ablaze after allegedly being hit in a drone strike.
He described hearing a drone buzzing around the vessel and moved into the open air to get a better view. He said she saw a drone and then a bomb deployed, resulting in a fire on the boat.
“The bomb exploded, and there was a big flame and fire on board immediately. We picked up the fire extinguishers and we were able to fight the fire successfully and everyone was safe fortunately,” he said.
“This was a shameful attack and we will not be deterred.”
Activists said they remained “determined” to reach the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Our will is stronger and we are more determined (than ever) to break the blockade against Gaza,” Tunisian organiser Ghassen Henchiri told a crowd in Tunis.
Nadir al-Nuri, a member of the steering committee, told AFP that the departure was still scheduled for Wednesday from the Tunisian capital.
It comes after at least eight Australian activists were caught up in the reported drone strike.
Several Australians are among the 350 activists and aid workers taking part in the controversial convoy.
Just hours before the alleged strike, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, a GP from Melbourne and one of several Aussies taking part in the Freedom Flotilla, posted a call to action on Instagram, demanding that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “impose an immediate arms embargo and trade sanctions on Israel”.
Other Australians on board include Juliet and Isla Lamont, a mother and daughter from northern NSW, a scientist named Julia from Tasmania, Yusuf Omar from Queensland, marketing professional Abubakir Rafiq from Sydney, Hamish Paterson from NSW and support worker Surya McEwen, also from NSW.
Mr Omar, who has a two-year-old and a six-week-old son back home on the Gold Coast, said he was on a mission to deliver food aid to Gaza, where residents have been cut off from food, water and medicine under Israel’s siege.
“I was on the top deck of the familial vessel, which was the main vessel with people like Greta who weren’t on the time,” he said.
“But I was with five others when it was hit by a drone strike … it was like a massive ball of flames that heated my whole face up. Massive fire also on the deck which we put out with fire extinguishers and it’s a miracle everyone survived.”
Ms Thunberg shared a statement by the Global Sumud Flotilla on social media, confirming the attack.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla confirms that one of the main boats, known as the ‘Family Boat’ – that was carrying GSF Steering Committee members – was struck by what is suspected to be a drone,” the statement read.
GSF said all six passengers and crew on-board the boat, which was sailing under the Portuguese flag, are safe.
A video posted by fellow activist Yasemin Acar on Instagram showed the blaze’s aftermath.
“The Family boat has been officially attacked – a drone came right above it, released a bomb and it exploded and the boat was on fire,” she posted. “Everyone on that boat is OK. The fire is out.”
Ms Thunberg is travelling to Gaza along with a flotilla of around 20 boats to deliver food and medicine to Gaza. The flotilla, which left Barcelona last week, is expected to reach its destination by mid-September.
The blaze comes after the European Union said it doesn’t “encourage” aid flotillas heading to Gaza.
“We don’t encourage flotillas like this, because basically they can escalate the situation, and they also put their participants at risk,” EU spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova said.
She said the EU believes the “best way … to deliver the humanitarian aid” is via partner organisations working on the ground.
“This is what we try to achieve, to deliver the humanitarian aid in a larger scale, and we keep the channels with Israel open, and we talk to Israeli authorities,” she said.
– With AFP
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