Qatar warns of retaliation after Israeli strike in Doha sparks global outrage

Qatar condemned Israel’s “barbaric” strike in Doha targeting Hamas figures, vowing retaliation as world leaders, including Trump and Australia, warned the attack violated sovereignty and risked escalating Middle East tensions.

By Imran Malik
September 10, 2025

WEBDESK — Qatar warned Wednesday that it “reserves the right to respond” after an Israeli strike in Doha killed Hamas figures, calling the attack a “barbaric act” and a direct assault on its sovereignty.

The unprecedented strike, which Israel claimed targeted senior Hamas operatives, has drawn sharp international condemnation and raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

Australia quickly criticized the move, saying it represented “an unacceptable violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.” Other diplomats warned that Israel’s decision to extend its military campaign beyond Gaza and Lebanon risked destabilizing the Gulf.

U.S. President Donald Trump, while reaffirming America’s support for Israel, admitted he was “not thrilled” about the situation in Doha, signaling unease inside Washington about the widening scope of the conflict.

David Satterfield, a former U.S. envoy for humanitarian aid in Gaza, questioned whether killing Hamas leaders would have any lasting effect. “Simply offing the group’s leadership is reckless and won’t do away with the movement or its ideology,” Satterfield told ABC NewsRadio.

“I’ve watched it in Iraq, I’ve watched it elsewhere,” he said. “Hamas is a terrorist movement. You cannot confront it and you certainly can’t eliminate it without countering its ideology. And that is not done with a gun. It’s done with an alternate, better political vision.”

Qatar, a long-time key mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations, said it would consult its allies before taking “necessary measures” in response. The Gulf state has also played a central role in funneling humanitarian aid to Palestinians, making the strike in its capital a potential turning point in the conflict.

World leaders are expected to raise the matter at the United Nations in an emergency session, with several Arab states already calling for collective action against what they describe as Israel’s “dangerous escalation.”