Israel’s bombing of Doha sparks global fury as even U.S. allies turn against Netanyahu
By isabelle // 2025-09-10
Copy
 
  • Israel launched a deadly airstrike on Doha, Qatar, killing five and sparking global outrage over its violation of sovereignty.
  • Qatar and allies condemned the attack as a dangerous escalation, vowing diplomatic and legal retaliation.
  • The U.S. distanced itself but avoided direct condemnation, straining ties with Gulf allies and exposing Israel’s defiance.
  • Civilians in Gaza face renewed displacement as Israel’s strikes draw comparisons to the October 7 attacks.
  • Legal and diplomatic fallout looms, but U.S. protection may shield Israel from real consequences.
The world watched in stunned disbelief on Tuesday as Israel launched a brazen airstrike on residential buildings in Doha, Qatar, a U.S. ally and host to America’s largest Middle East military base. The attack, which Israel claimed targeted Hamas leaders negotiating a ceasefire, killed at least five people, including the son of a senior Hamas official and a Qatari security officer. But the real casualty may be Israel’s already crumbling international standing, as even its closest partners condemned the strike as a reckless violation of sovereignty. The strike, carried out by Israeli jets around 4 p.m. local time, sent shockwaves through the region. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called it a “cowardly Israeli attack” and a “blatant violation of all international laws.” The Gulf nation, which has played a key role in mediating Gaza ceasefire talks, vowed to pursue “all diplomatic and legal means” in response. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters that Israel had sent a dangerous message: “Mediators will be scapegoated, will not be safe, and there will be no respect for the sanctity of their job.”

A wave of global condemnation

The backlash was swift and near-universal. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both US allies, warned of “grave consequences” from Israel’s “criminal transgressions.” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the attack a “blatant violation of international law,” while Jordan’s foreign ministry declared it “cannot be justified under any circumstances.” Even European nations that are traditionally more cautious in criticizing Israel spoke out. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni opposed “any form of escalation,” Switzerland’s foreign ministry deemed it “unacceptable,” and Belgium’s top diplomat insisted there was “no military solution” to the Gaza conflict. The United Nations didn’t mince words either. Secretary-General António Guterres labeled the strike a “flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty,” while Pope Leo described the situation as “very serious.” Meanwhile, social media erupted with outrage, with many pointing out the hypocrisy of Israel attacking a country that hosts 10,000 U.S. troops.

The U.S. is caught in the crossfire

The attack put the Trump administration in an awkward position. While the White House distanced itself from the operation—with President Donald Trump calling it “not a decision made by me”—it stopped short of condemning Israel. “Eliminating Hamas is a worthy goal,” Trump’s press secretary said, even as the president admitted the strike “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.” Reports later revealed that Israel had only notified the U.S. “minutes” before launching the missiles, leaving American officials scrambling to assess the fallout. Qatar, for its part, denied receiving any advance warning and said that a call from a U.S. official came only as explosions rocked Doha. The Emir of Qatar later spoke with Trump, who assured him such an attack “would not happen again.” But given Israel’s defiant tone—Defense Minister Israel Katz declared “Israel’s long arm will act against its enemies everywhere”—few are convinced. For Qatar, the implications are profound. The nation has long balanced its role as a U.S. ally with its hosting of Hamas’s political office in an arrangement the U.S. once supported for “indirect communication,” as Qatar’s ambassador to Washington wrote in 2023. Now, that delicate equilibrium lies in ruins. “The GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] response may be a realization that US security guarantees are no longer as valuable,” said Cinzia Bianco of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “No one is safe.”

The human cost beyond diplomacy

Amid the geopolitical fallout, the suffering in Gaza continues unabated. On the same day as the Doha strike, Israeli forces issued new displacement orders for Gaza City, forcing families to flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The irony wasn’t lost on observers: while Israel justifies its actions as self-defense, its strikes in Doha and Gaza have killed far more civilians than the October 7 attacks it cites as provocation. As the UN Security Council prepares an emergency session, the question lingers: Will there be consequences for Israel’s defiance? Qatar has promised legal action, and South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice just gained new ammunition. But with the U.S. still shielding Israel from accountability, don’t hold your breath. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net Politico.eu AlJazeera.com CBSNews.com
Copy