![Plumes of smoke rise into the sky after Israeli warplanes launch an airstrike on senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital Doha, in a new blow to efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal, on September 9, 2025. [Ali Altunkaya - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AA-20250909-39067509-39067508-ISRAEL_LAUNCHES_AIRSTRIKE_ON_HAMAS_LEADERS_IN_QATARI_CAPITAL-1-1.jpg)
The unexpected had happened. Israel bombed Qatar. I don’t know if attacking Qatar by the Israeli army is the single most unexpected move at this stage or not. At the very least, it was never on the table of expectations — or only buried at the very bottom of it, at best. Qatar is a main, long-standing mediator between Israel and Hamas since the beginning of the October 2023 Israeli war in Gaza, and even before. Qatar has long served as a link of political contact between Israel and the Palestinian factions, especially Hamas, and is still playing a vital role along with Egypt to end the Gaza war and secure the release of the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza. […]
