Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked outrage after vowing to target Hamas leaders abroad, days after Israel carried out a deadly strike in Qatar’s capital, Doha.
The attack, which hit senior Hamas officials during ceasefire talks, has drawn sharp condemnation from Qatar and neighboring Gulf states.
Unfazed by international criticism, Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that countries hosting Hamas officials would face consequences if they did not act.
“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice — because if you don’t, we will,” he warned.
He further claimed Israel deserved “applause” for its military actions, despite widespread condemnation of air raids across the Middle East.
Qatar condemns Israel’s “cowardly attack”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Netanyahu’s remarks, describing them as a “shameful attempt … to justify the cowardly attack that targeted Qatari territory, as well as the explicit threats of future violations of state sovereignty.”
The statement highlighted that Hamas’s political office in Doha was part of mediation efforts “requested by the United States and Israel.” It also accused Netanyahu of relying on “extremist rhetoric” while facing isolation, sanctions, and charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Doha strike marked just one in a series of Israeli attacks across the Middle East in recent days.
In only three days, Israel has launched strikes in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, and Qatar — while continuing daily raids in the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday alone, 35 people were killed in Yemen.
Last week, Israel also faced criticism for dropping grenades near United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
Qatar PM: “This is state terror”
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani described the attack on Doha as “state terror” in an interview with CNN.
“I have no words to express how enraged we are from such an action … this is state terror,” he said. “We are betrayed.”
He added that Israel’s actions had “killed any hope” for the release of captives in Gaza. “Netanyahu just killed any hope for those hostages,” he said, calling for him to be brought to justice at the ICC.
Gulf states rally around Qatar
The attack has triggered swift diplomatic activity in the Gulf. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visited Doha to meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while Jordan’s king and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to arrive soon.
According to Sheikh Mohammed, an Arab-Islamic summit will be held in Doha in the coming days to coordinate a “collective response” against Israel’s escalation.
“There is a response that will happen from the region,” he said. “We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying.”
