Operation Fire Summit - Qatar - 09 September 2025
According to reports on 09 September 2025, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) named their operation in Doha, Qatar, Operation Fire Summit [HE = pisgat hash]. This operation involved an airstrike targeting the leadership of the Hamas organization. Initial reports had suggested the name was "Day of Judgment," but this was later clarified by the military.
Israel attacked Hamas headquarters in Doha in an attempt to eliminate the organization's senior leaders, after informing the US and Qatar of its intention in advance. Netanyahu took "full responsibility" for the attack in Qatar. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the attack was aimed at Khalil al-Hayya and Jabareen. Qatar condemned the attack, calling it "cowardly" and claiming that it violated international law. According to Arab reports, the mediation process for ceasefire negotiations has been frozen until further notice.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirmed that its leadership survived an Israeli assassination attempt targeting it in the Qatari capital on Tuesday. However, the attack left a number of martyrs, including the son of leader Khalil al-Hayya and his office director. A leading Hamas source told Al Jazeera that the movement's leadership delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, survived an Israeli airstrike targeting it during a meeting to discuss US President Donald Trump 's latest proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media reports had said that the Israeli airstrike targeted top Hamas leaders, including Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas Political Bureau and top ceasefire negotiator, and Khaled Meshal, former Hamas chief. Hamas confirmed that a number of its members were killed in the Israeli airstrike: Jihad Labad (Abu Bilal) – Director of Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya's Office; Humam Al-Hayya (Abu Yahya) – son of Khalil Al-Hayya; Abdullah Abdul Wahid (Abu Khalil); Moamen Hassouna (Abu Omar); and Ahmed Al-Mamluk (Abu Malik).
It is unclear who will now run affairs in Hamas. Israel has gradually been stripped of all of the organization's military and political leadership, and in Gaza only mid-level commanders remain (Izz al-Din Haddad at their head) who are now required to fill shoes that are several sizes too big for them. With all the desire to deepen the damage to the organization and its leaders, Israel also needs someone to talk to on the other side so that it can advance its defined interests – ending the war, returning the hostages, demilitarizing the Strip, and establishing a new government in Gaza (without Hamas).
American Greenlight
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said later in the day that President Trump “feels very badly” about the attack, adding, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and greatly 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 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 this attack."
Israel informed the US and the Qatari authorities before attacking the organization's headquarters in Doha in an attempt to eliminate its senior officials, in accordance with the commitment given by Jerusalem to Washington and Doha, a commitment that was reaffirmed several times throughout the war, Israel Hayom has learned. In addition to being informed before the attack, it is very likely that the US also gave the green light to the attack.
A senior American official told Israel Hayom that the president's message to the leadership was unequivocal, in which he mentioned that his proposal was the last one before the IDF took control of the entire Strip, and that he warned Hamas leaders that if they did not respond to it, they would be in danger of being harmed. According to the American source, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani received his own message from Washington, demanding that he exert his full influence on Hamas, and if not, they will take action to expel them from Qatar. Trump conveyed warnings that through various channels, including through mediator Bishara Bahah and through Egypt and Qatar, over the past week to Hamas leaders.
The Prime Minister of Qatar conveyed to the Hamas leadership an angry message from US President Trump after Hamas's response to his proposal. Hamas's response to the proposal ostensibly said yes in principle, but set further conditions and doubts, refused to release all the hostages at the beginning of the negotiations, and demanded more than Trump's personal commitment to guarantee an end to the war.
Israeli Words and Deeds
Intelligence about the gathering of senior Hamas officials for a discussion came from the General Security Service, and the Air Force began preparations for the dramatic attack carried out in Doha. Israel is monitoring the results of the attack, but claims that for now "it looks good." The Air Force dropped about 15 precision bombs on the building where Hamas officials were staying. The Air Force once again proved that it can, within a few days, prepare for a long-range attack, about 1,800 kilometers from Israeli territory, in a place where it has not attacked before, and accurately hit the target.
The operation was conducted by the Shin Bet's special operations headquarters in central Israel, with intelligence guidance from the Shin Bet and execution by the Air Force. The Shin Bet operation was carried out by the Division for Countering Terrorism from Palestinian Targets Abroad and the operational unit. sraeli media sources reported that warplanes fired 12 missiles at sites where Hamas leaders were located in Doha. Channel 14 reported that Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin were among the leaders targeted in the attack . Channel 12 also reported that Khaled Meshaal was targeted. An Israeli official told Channel 14 that the army was awaiting the results of the assassination attempt, noting that fighter jets carried out the attack.
According to a statement from the IDF spokesman, "The IDF and the Shin Bet, through the Air Force, recently carried out a targeted attack on the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization. The members of the leadership who were attacked led the terrorist organization's activities for years, and are directly responsible for carrying out the October 7 massacre and waging the war against the State of Israel." The statement further stated that "prior to the attack, steps were taken to minimize harm to uninvolved people, including the use of precision weapons and additional intelligence information.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded for the first time to the Israeli attack in Doha, and his office stated in English that "the operation against the senior Hamas terror leaders was a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility."
In a joint statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, it was noted that "yesterday, after the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed all security officials to prepare for the possibility of thwarting the leaders of Hamas. The Defense Minister fully supported this proposal. "Today at noon, in light of an operational opportunity, and in consultation with all heads of the defense establishment and with full support, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense decided to carry out the instructions given last night to the IDF and the Shin Bet, and they did so in a precise and optimal manner."
The announcement of the assassination of the Hamas leadership, published by the IDF and Shin Bet spokespeople, intentionally lacked two key details: the first, a breakdown of the targets of the attack, before it was certain that they had indeed been eliminated; the second, the place where the attack was carried out. The name "Qatar" was not mentioned in it, and not by chance. Israel may still need its help in the next chapters of its never-ending war with Hamas. The link Prime Minister Netanyahu made to the attacks carried out the day before seemed tenuous: Israel had already known of many attacks in the past, and no connection has been proven between the terrorists operating in Jerusalem and Hamas.
It seems that the decision to operate in Qatar had three main motives. The first was an unusual, perhaps one-time, gathering of key figures in the organization's leadership, who could have been dealt with all at once. Second, the understanding in Israel that with these people – who live in a world of luxury and do not pay the price of suffering and destruction in their own bodies for the war in Gaza – it will be difficult, if not impossible, to reach an agreement that comes close to meeting Israel's threshold demands for ending the war. And third , the strengthening of deterrence by the very decision to attack a place that has so far been perceived as immune due to Qatar's international status and importance as a mediator.
A year earlier, the Shin Bet, then headed by Ronen Bar, proposed eliminating the Hamas leadership in Doha. The political echelon did not approve the proposal at the time, and rejected additional opportunities and proposals that emerged later. The motives changed from time to time, but the bottom line remained the same – until this afternoon. It is possible that what tipped the scales, and is considered a fourth (and perhaps first) major motive for the decision, was a green light and perhaps even explicit consent from the Trump administration.
Israel would not have attacked Qatar without such a green light. The Americans have many assets in Qatar – the main one being CENTCOM’s largest air base in the Gulf (which was also the target of an Iranian counterattack in response to the bombing of the nuclear sites last June), and alongside it a host of economic interests, including the personal interests of President Donald Trump and his family. Rumors have emerged in the Arab world that the American president’s proposal to end the war was actually a trap: it was the background to the gathering of senior Hamas figures in Doha, which led to their deaths.
It is likely that the details will be known soon, both because of Trump's difficulty in keeping a secret and in light of Qatar's response. The oil principality has made itself a safe haven for leaders of all kinds of terrorist organizations – Hamas, and in the past also al-Qaeda, the Taliban and others – while buying itself (with money) the status of a mediator capable of dealing with all parties. The assassination signals that it is no longer that way: for Qatar, the implications are far-reaching, as it presents a safe facade and develops international aspirations on its basis, such as hosting the Olympics in the future, following the World Cup it hosted three years ago.
Forward columnist Dan Perry ""
Qatari Response
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that this was a "cowardly Israeli attack that hit the residential headquarters of several members of Hamas' political bureau. This is a criminal attack in a manner that violates international laws and conventions, and constitutes a dangerous threat to the security of Qataris and those present in Qatar."
The response also stated that "security officials and civil defense immediately began responding to the incident and taking measures. Qatar emphasizes that it will not tolerate Israel's reckless behavior, and the continued harm to regional security, or any action that harms its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and additional details will be published later."
Qatar issued a statement condemning the “Israeli attack on the residential headquarters of Hamas officials in Doha.” According to the Qatari statement, Qatar condemns the “cowardly Israeli attack targeting Hamas officials in Doha” and claims that “the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international law.” Qatar announced that “an investigation is underway at the highest level.”
Anwar Gargash, advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, stated: "The security of the Arab Gulf states is indivisible, and we stand wholeheartedly with the sisterly state of Qatar. We condemn the treacherous Israeli attack aimed against it and affirm our full solidarity with it in confronting this aggression. May Allah protect Qatar, its leaders and people, and the Arab Gulf states." It should be noted that the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries were in a bitter conflict with Qatar until a few years ago, partly because of the activities of the local network "Al-Jazeera" and its support for the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
Qatar is not a signatory to the Abraham Accords, which established normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Qatar maintains a complex foreign policy, including its historical support for the Palestinian cause, which currently stands as a significant obstacle to its potential participation in the Abraham Accords framework.
Arab Response
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said "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."
"We hold the US administration jointly responsible with the occupation for this crime, due to its ongoing support for the aggression and crimes of the occupation against our people."
"This crime has proven that the Zionist occupation is an imminent threat to the region and the world, and that Netanyahu is attempting to erase our national cause and the rights of our people, pushing them toward forced displacement, continuing with his criminal plans for genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, and displacement."
Zeteo contributor Rula Jebreal suggested that Israel’s attack is by design: “Since this government was elected and took office, they've been clear about their genocidal intent, their ethnic cleansing agenda. They never hid it… And I think it's very important to understand that the assassination attempt comes after they bombed eight countries in the last month.... I don't believe that Trump didn't, in any way, know about it… They're partners in crime.”
Gaza political analyst Muhammad Shehada said “The US just sent a message to its key allies all around the world that nothing is going to protect you no matter how much US weaponry you buy or how much you invest in US territory or US industries or how much American troops you put on your ground, none of it will shield you from Israel. Israel is above and beyond anything and it's bound by nothing.”
He also speaks about how Qatar, a key ally in the region housing the largest US base in the Middle East, has been taking it: “Basically, the message that Israel is sending to them [Qatar], that I’m hearing now from people in Qatar and in other Gulf countries, is we are paying billions and billions to the US to protect us. And Trump uses those billions to manufacture bombs that he then supplies Israel to bomb us with, the bombs that were developed with our very own money.”
The Israeli attack targeting the residential headquarters of leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) in the Qatari capital , Doha , on Tuesday, was widely condemned by Arab countries and denounced as a violation of Qatar's sovereignty. Arab countries described the attack as a provocative escalation and a flagrant violation, expressing their solidarity with Qatar.
Gulf states could be reconsidering the value of their relationship with the United States, says Sultan Barakat, a professor in public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. “I think this is going to be a watershed moment, to be honest, similar to the day when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, as far as Gulf state security is concerned. Now, they will have to rethink their whole assumption that their security can be guaranteed by the United States, and by good relationships with the West”, he told Al Jazeera. “If the United States — and obviously it’s an ‘if’ — had stabbed Qatar in the back over this one issue, then I think the rest of the Gulf states should take it extremely seriously and come up with a totally different proposition as far as the relationship with the US is concerned,” he added.
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says the Israeli attack on Doha represents a “turning point that will have dangerous implications” for the region. “This operation is against Qatar, which is leading the mediation efforts, and against the Hamas leadership that is discussing the American proposal,” Barghouti said. “Is there worse shamelessness?” He added that the strikes show that Israel is not interested in a ceasefire agreement and is determined to carry on with its genocide and ethnic cleansing plans.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , during which he affirmed the Kingdom's full support for Qatar and its condemnation of the "blatant Israeli attack," the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Saudi Crown Prince affirmed that "the Kingdom is deploying all its capabilities to support its brothers in Qatar and the measures it is taking to protect its security."
The Jordanian Royal Court said that King Abdullah II had a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which he affirmed that "Qatar's security is part of Jordan's security" and emphasized his country's position rejecting any action that would undermine Qatar's security, stability, and sovereignty. In turn, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi condemned in the strongest terms the "cowardly Israeli aggression against the sisterly state of Qatar." Safadi called on the international community to "deter Israel and curb its aggression."
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, condemned the Israeli attack, saying in a post on the XN website, "The security of the Arab Gulf states is indivisible." Gargash added, "We stand wholeheartedly with our sisterly State of Qatar, condemning the treacherous Israeli attack that targeted it." For his part, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed tweeted, "Our full solidarity with dear Qatar."
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned the "brutal aggression against the State of Qatar by the unjust Israeli forces." The ministry added in a statement that this aggression constitutes "a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, a serious threat to the security and stability of the region, and a direct undermining of international peace and security."
The Omani Foreign Ministry expressed the authority's solidarity with the State of Qatar and its strong condemnation of the Israeli attack. The ministry said in a statement that "political assassinations are a flagrant violation of international law, a blatant breach of state sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli attack on Qatar, describing it as a "flagrant violation of international law." For his part, Hussein al-Sheikh, Palestinian Vice President, said, "The Israeli attack on Qatar is a threat to security and stability in the region."
The Egyptian presidency strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar, describing it as "a dangerous precedent, an unacceptable development, and an escalation that undermines international efforts to achieve calm."
The Syrian Foreign Ministry expressed its strong condemnation of the Israeli aggression on the Qatari capital.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli attack on Doha, affirming "Iraq's firm position in standing with the government and people of the State of Qatar and fully supporting it in confronting any attacks that undermine its sovereignty."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said , "The Israeli aggression against Doha demonstrates Israel's determination to undermine efforts to achieve stability and security in the region." He added, "Lebanon stands in solidarity with sisterly Qatar and stands with it in condemning this criminal aggression."
The Algerian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the "brutal Israeli aggression that targeted the Qatari capital," expressing "full and absolute solidarity with the sisterly state of Qatar in the face of these exceptional circumstances."
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, denouncing the violation of its sovereignty.
Sudan's Sovereignty Council said in a statement that the government condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Qatar. The council added that "the attack undermines efforts to achieve security and stability in the region."
The Yemeni Foreign Ministry condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on the Qatari capital, stressing that it is a "flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and a blatant breach of international law and the UN Charter." The ministry said, "This aggression undermines regional and international efforts to stop the war against the Palestinian people." On the other hand, Mahdi Al-Mashat, head of the Supreme Political Council of the Ansar Allah group (Houthis), expressed his condemnation of the Israeli aggression. Al-Mashat stressed that "the Zionist aggression against Qatar and the Zionist enemy's blatant statement regarding it, which violates the sovereignty of a sovereign state, is a warning bell for all Arab and Islamic countries. Be careful before it's too late."
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, condemned in the strongest terms the "despicable operation carried out by Israel on Qatari territory." Al-Badawi said, "The GCC states stand in full solidarity with the State of Qatar and support any action it takes."
The Arab League condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Doha, stressing that it is "a flagrant and completely unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, which has sought, since the beginning of the war on Gaza, alongside Egypt and the United States to mediate a ceasefire."
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