Thick black smoke was seen rising over Doha, the capital of Qatar, where authorities acknowledged the strike on Tuesday.

The method of the attack wasn’t immediately clarified, though Israeli military representative Colonel Avichay Adraee mentioned the involvement of Israel’s air force.

Qatar Airways planes continued landing in Doha amid the strike, even as at least one Qatari air force aircraft took off on patrol over the country.

Throughout the conflict, Israeli officials have given mixed signals, relying on Qatari mediation while questioning its commitment to pressuring Hamas.

Post-strike, Israel’s military issued a statement not specifically naming Qatar but blaming Hamas’ leaders for the “brutal October 7th massacre,” and accused them of directing the war against Israel.

The Israelis claimed the use of “precise munitions and additional intelligence” in their attack, without further details. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, confirmed the targeting of Hamas in Qatar.

Qatar condemned what it referred to as a “cowardly Israeli attack” on Hamas’ political headquarters in Doha.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari called it a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms”.

“[Qatar] asserts that it will not tolerate such reckless Israeli actions, which disrupt regional security, nor any act that threatens its own security and sovereignty,” al-Ansari emphasized.

The US Embassy in Qatar said that it had “instituted a shelter-in-place order for their facilities”.

“US citizens are advised to shelter-in-place,” it added.

Qatar twice attacked during Middle East wars

Flights from Australia were affected by the closure of airspace after that attack, which Qatar condemned but said it successfully intercepted the missiles.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said that he was giving his “last warning” to Hamas regarding a possible ceasefire, as Arab officials described a new US proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday it was his nation’s decision to carry out the strike.

“Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

It remains unclear what regional reaction will come from the strike. Immediately afterward, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote online: “Full solidarity with our dear Qatar”.

That comes as the United Arab Emirates already has warned Israel its possible annexation of the West Bank threatened the Abraham Accords, an agreement by which Abu Dhabi normalised relations with Israel five years ago.

Arab officials say there is a new US proposal for a ceasefire. A senior Hamas official called it a “humiliating surrender document” but the militant group said that it would discuss the proposal and respond within days.

The proposal, presented by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calls for a negotiated end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza once the hostages are released and a ceasefire is established, according to Egyptian and Hamas officials familiar with the talks, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door discussions.