Update(1355ET): Hamas has claimed in an official statement that Israel failed in its attempt to assassinate the group’s negotiations team; however, it acknowledged that five of its members were killed in the Tuesday Israeli aerial attack on Doha, including the son of the group’s chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya.
There’s been some back-and-forth on whether the US greenlighted the operation ahead of time, but reports say the White House was informed once the operation had already been ordered by Netanyahu. Trump officials then quickly informed Qatar.
“Qatar, which condemned the attack, hosts America’s most important air base in the region as well as much of Hamas’s political leadership. It has been a key mediator in two years of talks to resolve the war in Gaza,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “Israel informed the U.S. that the attack was coming, and the U.S. in turn notified Qatar, people familiar with the matter said.”
There’s been some speculation over whether Trump just did to Hamas what was done to Iran: lure them into thinking negotiations were happening, only to set them up for a brutal ‘decapitation’ air strike which no one expected.
⚡️The moment the Israeli airstrikes on Doha, Qatar, took place pic.twitter.com/Du17Fyr2HH
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) September 9, 2025
The following were confirmed killed, base on the Hamas statement:
“We confirm the enemy’s failure to assassinate our brothers in the negotiating delegation. However, a number of our martyred brothers have ascended to the highest ranks of glory, including: Martyr Jihad Labad (Abu Bilal) – Director of Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya’s Office, Martyr Humam Al-Hayya (Abu Yahya) – Son of Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, Martyr Abdullah Abdul Wahid (Abu Khalil) – Companion, Martyr Moamen Hassouna (Abu Omar) – Companion, Martyr Ahmed Al-Mamluk (Abu Malik) – Companion”
Hamas went on to say that the United States is responsible for the attack alongside the Israelis, and alleged a ‘set up’ of sorts.
Qatari officer killed… what did the US know in term of details and how far in advance?
Qatar’s Interior Ministry says the Israeli attack killed a Qatari security officer (from Al Jazeera’s live updates) pic.twitter.com/oONSKxAFV4
— Dave DeCamp (@DecampDave) September 9, 2025
“Targeting the negotiating delegation, as they discussed US President Donald Trump’s latest proposal, confirms beyond doubt that Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any agreement and are deliberately seeking to thwart all opportunities and thwart international efforts, disregarding the lives of their prisoners held by the resistance, the sovereignty of states, or the security and stability of the region,” the US-designated terror group said. “We hold the US administration jointly responsible with the occupation for this crime,” it added.
A number of journalists have agreed that it seems the Hamas team was intentionally lured to the targeted location in Doha…
Here’s what just happened: Trump sent a peace deal to Hamas, Hamas met to discuss it in Doha, where the U.S. is mediating talks and has a base,and Israel bombed them, presumably with US support.
The strike in Doha was aimed at Hamas negotiators who were gathered to discuss…
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) September 9, 2025
The Israelis have reiterated that it will hunt down terrorists “anywhere in the world”. Netanyahu has boasted that this paves the way for the war to end. Certainly, all prospects for peace talks are completely over.
I condemn Israel’s strikes on Doha, which violate Qatar’s sovereignty and risk further escalation across the region.
The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza.
This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 9, 2025
And the White House reaction:
- White House praises, kinda condemns Israel’s bombing of Qatar, promises ‘will not happen again’
- Confirms Qatar was ‘informed of impending attack’
- ‘Unilaterally bombing close ally of US…doesn’t advance Israel-US goals However, eliminating Hamas worthy goal’
* * *
Multiple explosions have been reported in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday, according to eyewitnesses cited by Reuters. Initial reports suggest a missile strike or series of possible aerial strikes.
Axios journalist Barak Ravid, referencing Israeli officials, reported that the blasts were believed to be part of an assassination attempt targeting Hamas members. Netanyahu is really going gloves off at this point, it appears, and all negotiations seem definitively off.
Reports of multiple explosions in Doha, Qatar, with witnesses citing up to 10 blasts and smoke visible. Sources close to Hamas allege the group’s negotiating headquarters was targeted. Israel’s Channel 12 reports the explosions were an assassination attempt on Hamas leaders. pic.twitter.com/8hOSJwZ4Qd
— Jalyssa Dugrot (@jalyssaspeaking) September 9, 2025
“Israeli official tells me the explosion in Doha is an assassination attempt again Hamas officials,” Axios’ Ravid reports.
Could this be Hamas targeting the negotiating team, or other Hamas leaders who have long hid out in Qatar? It was apparently an Israeli aerial attack, which is going to outrage the Gulf states over the violation of airspace:
In the first official US comment on the attack, the American embassy in Doha says it has seen “reports of missile strikes occurring” in the Qatari capital.
We have seen reports of missile strikes occurring in Doha. The U.S. Embassy has instituted a shelter-in-place order for their facilities. U.S. citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates.
— U.S. Embassy in Qatar (@USEmbassyDoha) September 9, 2025
Channel 12 is citing an Israeli official who says US President Trump gave the green light for the attack on Hamas leadership. There are emerging reports that that US and UK surveillance planes were in the air over the Gulf at the time of the strike.
The attack has resulted in the US Embassy in Doha issuing a shelter in place order for US citizens in the country. The UAE is also said to be furious over the attack. It has condemned the “treacherous” attack by Israel.
Israel Channel 12: Hamas Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya was the primary target of the Israeli attack on Doha.
According to more confirmation via The Wall Street Journal:
The attack targeted Hamas leaders Khalil Al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, one of the officials said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone was killed in the attack or how it was carried out.
Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier warned Hamas leaders abroad that they would be “annihilated” if the group didn’t lay down its arms.
But Al Jazeera is reporting that Al-Hayya has survived the attack. “A Hamas source tells Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes targeted officials from the group who were meeting in Doha to discuss Trump’s ceasefire proposal,” the regional outlet says. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has written on social media, “Terrorists have no and will have no immunity from the long arm of Israel anywhere in the world.”
The actions sparked a surge in oil prices as geopolitical risk premia re-emerge…
OPEC+ will be pleased.
developing…
Loading recommendations…
