Qatar threatened to “retaliate” against Israel in the wake of an airstrike in Doha that targeted the leaders of Hamas, as the country’s prime minister called the situation a “decisive moment” for the Middle East. 

“The State of Qatar is committed to act in a decisive way with anything that would target its territories and will reserve the right to retaliate and will take all the needed measures to retaliate,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani declared at a news conference Tuesday, according to a translation by the Qatar-based news organization Al Jazeera. 

Al-Thani described Israel’s strike on Hamas as “state terrorism that is being exerted by someone like [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.” 

“I think that we have reached a decisive moment. There should be retaliation from the whole region in the face of those barbaric actions that only [reflect] one thing: It reflects the barbarism of this person that is leading the region, unfortunately, to a point where we cannot address any situation, and we cannot repair anything, and we cannot work within the frameworks of international laws,” al-Thani added. “He just violates all those international laws.” 

A damaged building is seen in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

The White House revealed Tuesday that prior to the strike, President Donald Trump “immediately directed” his special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar of the “impending attack” by Israel.  

“This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which very unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “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.” 

Smoke is seen billowing after explosions in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.  (Jacqueline Penny/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. President Trump immediately directed special envoy Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did,” Leavitt added.   

A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later pushed back on Leavitt’s remarks, saying, “statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless.” 

CCTV footage shows an explosion in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (Reuters)

“The call from a U.S. official came during the sound of explosions caused by the Israeli attack in Doha,” the official wrote on X.