Israeli strike in Qatar condemned, 'may dampen Doha's mediation, divide US and Gulf countries'
Global Times
By Zhang Han and Chen Zishuai Published: Sep 10, 2025 11:41 PM
The international community has condemned or voiced opposition to Israel's shocking attacks on Hamas in Qatar, a US ally and key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks, with observers saying the strike could dampen Qatar's willingness to mend fences and create divisions between the US and Gulf countries.
China strongly condemns the attack yesterday in Doha, Qatar and firmly opposes Israel's violation of Qatar's territorial integrity and national security, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday in comments on Israel's Tuesday strike.
"We are deeply concerned that the attack could lead to further escalation in the region and disapprove of the actions taken by relevant parties to deliberately jeopardize Gaza ceasefire talks," Lin said.
"Use of force will not bring peace to the Middle East. Dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out," Lin said, noting that It will soon be two years since the conflict broke out in Gaza. China strongly calls on relevant sides, especially Israel, to make an effort to end the fighting and resume talks, instead of the other way around.
Israel on Tuesday launched an unprecedented airstrike on the Qatari capital of Doha, targeting a building used by senior Hamas officials in what Israeli authorities described as an attempt to assassinate leaders of the group, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In response to the strike, Qatar vowed to adopt a "comprehensive" approach and deter future attacks, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at a press conference.
This strike in the heart of the Qatari capital has come as a huge shock. This is a country that is not at war with anyone but rather positions itself - as a pillar of its foreign policy - to try to mend fences, according to Al Jazeera.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the air raids a "flagrant violation" of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar after Israel conducted the strike on Hamas in Qatar, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks.
Guterres added that all parties to the Gaza war must work toward achieving a permanent ceasefire rather than destroying the prospects of one.
"Russia regards the incident as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state and a step escalating further tensions and instability in the Middle East," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Tass reported Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the strikes, warning of further escalation across the region, Politico reported.
The Spanish foreign ministry said "This attack is a violation of Qatari territorial sovereignty and a flagrant violation of international law."
The US also criticized the Israeli attack, although mildly, as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to reporters that "Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard in bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America's goals."
The attack prompted strong reactions in the region and among the Arab world. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, among other countries, issued statements condemning the Israeli attack.
The shocking attack by Israel on Qatar was described by The Economist as "a bridge too far," adding "a line has been crossed," and it will have implications not only for the war in Gaza, now approaching its third year, but for the relationship between America, Israel and the Gulf states, per the report.
The nature of the attack was unprecedented, according to CNN, which reported that Qatar has long history of being neutral territory for thorny diplomatic negotiations, including hosting an office for the Afghan Taliban during secretive talks with the US.
A Chinese national who works in Qatar said he witnessed flames and smoke and felt the shaking from his office high in a skyscraper in Lusail, 20 kilometers from central Doha.
"We first thought it could be an explosion of a gas station. Even after seeing social media posts claiming it was Israeli attacks, we did not believe it as we did not think Israel would take such a bold action," the person told the Global Times on condition of anonymity.
The attack took place in a residential area in Doha where many people live and is surrounded by many embassies and consulates, Al Jazeera reported.
Zhu Yongbiao, executive director of the Research Center for the Belt and Road at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that although the attacks were deemed as "crossing the line" due to a tacit understanding to not attack a conflict mediator, the strike is consistent with Israel's recent strategy - "exerting maximum pressure to test the reactions of the international community."
Previous "pressure and tests" included blockading Gaza, attacks on the West Bank and approval of a plan to occupy Gaza City, Zhu said.
The expert believes Qatar might take diplomatic and economic measures in response to Israeli attacks while a military retaliation is rather unlikely.
Observers pointed out the subtle role of the US in this strike and its implications - to escalate tensions in the regional geopolitical landscape and create divisions between Gulf countries and the US.
The US administration earlier said it notified Qatari officials before Israel's attack on Hamas negotiators in Doha, a claim refuted by the Gulf country, according to Al Jazeera.
Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that as an ally of the US, Qatar may feel "betrayed" this time, and its willingness to mediate peace in the Middle East could drop significantly.
Qatar had actively participated in mediation partly to gain the status of a "neutral country" to safeguard its own security and enhance its influence. However, it has instead brought trouble to itself, Li said.
Ding Long, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times the strike may have cut a key channel of communication between the conflicting parties via Doha. "The hope of peace talks has become dimmer."
Other Gulf countries will feel insecure, and the credibility of the security commitments made by the US to its Middle Eastern allies is facing widespread doubts, observers said, adding that the foundation of the US' relations with its regional allies, as well as the US' leadership position in the region could confront severe challenges.
Li Yu contributed to the story
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