Doha air strike sabotages potential ceasefire with Hamas

The Israeli air strike on Hamas leadership headquarters in Doha is a direct manifestation of Israel’s declared intention to go after the terrorists who orchestrated October 7, regardless of where they find shelter.

In the past two years, Hamas leaders, and the Iranian officers who assisted them in planning and training for October 7, have already been hit in the capitals of Lebanon, Syria and Iran. In this respect, the strike in Qatar could be seen as part of “more of the same” strategy implemented by Israel.

It should also be remembered that Israel used its air force to target Palestinian terrorists abroad already back 1985, when the PLO headquarters in Tunisia was hit in retaliation to a string of terror attacks against Israeli targets.

Nevertheless, the current strike holds a few critical distinctions from all others such attacks in the past. This is not because of the target hit, but due to its location. After all, Qatar is not an enemy state, and even though there is no formal peace treaty signed between Doha and Jerusalem, the two countries have conducted a long-lasting bilateral relationship. Israeli businessmen frequently visit Qatar and Israeli companies are even permitted to sell their cyber-defence technologies and other security capabilities to Doha.

In the past months Qatar has played an important role in the negotiations for the release of the remaining 48 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. In the years leading up to October 7, Qatar answered an Israeli request and delivered millions of dollars to Gaza, as part of Israel’s misguided policy of “buying” Hamas’s restraint with Qatari money.