Israel's Assassination Operation Against the Hamas Delegation in Doha (September 2025)

The Israeli military announced on September 9, 2025, that it had carried out an operation targeting Hamas’s negotiation delegation in Doha. The operation took place during diplomatic talks being conducted in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Announcement of the Operation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in a public statement, indicated that high-ranking members of Hamas had been targeted, identifying them as personnel from Hamas’s political bureau in Doha. The statement did not disclose the identities of the targets or operational details. It was confirmed that the individuals targeted were members of Hamas’s negotiation delegation and that the operation occurred while these diplomatic talks were ongoing.

Location and Timing

The operation was carried out against members of Hamas’s political bureau located in Doha, Qatar’s capital. The attack occurred during Hamas’s diplomatic negotiations in the city and unfolded in parallel with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar’s Response

In a statement issued by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the targeting of Hamas’s political bureau in Doha was labeled a “cowardly attack” and condemned in the strongest terms. The Qatari leadership stated that the strike violated the country’s sovereignty and undermined its mediation efforts.

Hamas described the attack as a violation of international norms and laws and directly blamed the United States and Israel. Hamas officials asserted that the targeting of its negotiation delegation was proof that the Israeli government had no intention of reaching any agreement.

Israeli Military Carried Out Assassination Against High-Ranking Hamas Figures (Anadolu Agency)

U.S. Statements

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the attack did not serve the interests of the United States or Israel. She emphasized that Qatar is a close ally of the United States and argued that such unilateral actions yield no benefit. It was also reported that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following the attack and assured him that such an incident would not be repeated.

Leavitt said that, under Trump’s instructions, U.S. Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff informed Qatari officials about the “impending attack.” However, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majid al-Ensari dismissed claims that Qatar had been warned in advance as “baseless.”

Israel’s Post-Attack Statement

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that the operation was conducted entirely independently by Israel. It was noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had issued directives to security agencies to be prepared to eliminate Hamas leaders following an attack in East Jerusalem, and that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz supported this proposal.

Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana described the operation as “a message to the entire Middle East.” Meanwhile, Israeli families of hostages expressed deep concern over the safety of the captives following the attack.