Israel launches strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital DohaOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchUS president Donald Trump has said Israel’s “unfortunate” airstrike on Qatar does not advance the goals of either Israel or America.“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he wrote on Truth Social.Hamas said five of its lower-ranking members and a Qatari security official were killed in the airstrike in Doha, but that all its leaders survived the attack.The designated terrorist organisation had on Monday admitted being behind a gun attack in Jerusalem that killed six people. Hamas’s exiled leadership has long been based in Qatar, which has served as a mediator in talks between Hamas and Israel, even before the latest war in the Gaza Strip.A strike on its leadership could further complicate negotiations over a ceasefire and the release of hostages taken in Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the action was a wholly independent Israeli operation and had been “entirely justified”.Israel strike Hamas in Qatar: Key pointsHezbollah frees hostageHezbollah has freed a hostage who was held in Iraq, President Trump has announced.Elizabeth Tsurkov, a 38-year-old graduate student was kidnapped in 2023 while doing research in Iraq.Mr Trump wrote: “I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months. “I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!” Elizabeth Tsurkov was held by Hezbollah for two years (Foreign Policy Research Institute)Jane Dalton9 September 2025 21:50’Unfortunate’ strike does not advance Israel’s goals – TrumpUS president Donald Trump has said the “unfortunate” airstrike does not advance the goals of Israel or America.He said he did not make the decision to carry out the attack, but also said he assured Qatar that such a thing would not happen again on its soil. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he wrote on Truth Social. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. “I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack.” Mr Trump said he viewed Qatar as a strong ally and he felt very badly about the location of the attack. Jane Dalton9 September 2025 21:33Pope says we must insist on end to fightingThe Pope has called the Israeli attack “really serious”.“We have to pray a lot and continue to work and try to insist on an end to the hostilities,” Pope Leo XIV told Italy’s RAI television.”The whole situation is really serious,” Leo said.Leo and the Vatican’s top diplomats met Israeli president Isaac Herzog last week, when he called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and entry of humanitarian aid to famine-stricken Palestinians there.The Vatican told Herzog a two-state solution was the “only way out of the war,” according to a Vatican statement at the time.Vatican Pope (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Jane Dalton9 September 2025 21:21Pictured: Explosion caught on CCTVCCTV captured the moment of the explosion in Doha:(Social media)Jane Dalton9 September 2025 20:46Gulf states slam Doha attack Gulf states condemned Israel’s attack on Doha.The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, branded the attack “blatant and cowardly”.Abu Dhabi was already angry over an Israeli minister’s plan for annexation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, saying that was a red line that cannot be crossed.Regional power Saudi Arabia denounced what it called a “brutal Israeli aggression” against Qatar’s sovereignty. Egypt said the attack set a dangerous precedent.Jane Dalton9 September 2025 20:18Hamas: US ‘jointly responsible for airstrike’Hamas said it held the US administration “jointly responsible with the occupation” for the attack due to its “constant support for the aggression and the occupation’s crimes against our people”.The terrorist organisation said those killed were the director of the office of senior Hamas figure Khalil Al-Hayya, Dr Al-Hayya’s son, three security escorts and a Qatari security officer.“These terrorist crimes will not undermine the determination of our Movement and its leadership,” Hamas said.Jane Dalton9 September 2025 19:42Hamas accuses Israel of sabotaging peace efforts and failing hostagesHamas has claimed Israel’s airstrike “confirms beyond any doubt that [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any agreement and are deliberately seeking to fail all opportunities and international efforts, disregarding the lives of their prisoners”.The terrorist group attacked what it termed the “treacherous attempt to assassinate the Hamas movement’s negotiating delegation”, branding it a “horrific crime, a blatant act of aggression, and a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws”. Jane Dalton9 September 2025 19:34Watch: Trump insists he warned QatarUS President Donald Trump claims his envoy Steve Witkoff warned the Qataris of the impending attack:Trump reacts to Israeli strike on Hamas political leaders in QatarJane Dalton9 September 2025 19:26Qatar denies having warning of attackQatar insists it knew nothing about the airstrike in advance.“Statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless,” wrote foreign affairs spokesman Majed al-Ansari.“The communication received from one of the American officials came during the sound of explosions resulting from the Israeli attack in Doha.”Jane Dalton9 September 2025 19:19No 10 warns against more violenceDowning Street has warned against a further escalation in violence following Israel’s strike.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “You’ll appreciate these are emerging reports. We are monitoring those as more details emerge.”We’ve been clear that Hamas are a vile terrorist organisation responsible for an abhorrent attack on Israel on October 7, but we do not want to see a further escalation in violence which risks further destabilisation in the region.”Our overarching priority is to see an end to the horrific suffering in Gaza, starting with an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid, leading to … peace for Israelis and Palestinians, peace in the wider region.”Sir Keir and Israeli president Isaac Herzog are due to meet this week.Jane Dalton9 September 2025 19:16
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Trump condemns ‘unfortunate’ Israeli airstrike on Qatar that killed six: Latest
