Smoke billows after explosions in Doha’s capital Qatar on Sept. 9, 2025, in a still from video. Jacqueline Penney/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
The Israeli military launched a surprise strike on Doha, Qatar, on Sept. 9, intending to eliminate several political leaders of Hamas.
Qatar has played the role of mediator throughout the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli strike comes as leaders of Hamas—an internationally designated terrorist organization—have been reviewing the latest U.S. proposal to secure the release of hostages the group took on Oct. 7, 2023, and bring an end to nearly two years of fighting in Gaza.
