Israel ‘killed any hope’ for hostages with attack on Doha, says PM

Benjamin Netanyahu’s airstrike on Hamas ceasefire negotiators in Doha has “just killed any hope” for the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, the prime minister of Qatar has said.

In an interview with CNN, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani said the assassination of Hamas representatives was “barbaric” and accused Israel of “state terror”.

The unprecedented bombardment killed six people, including a member of Qatar’s internal security forces and five Hamas members who were brokering a US-led ceasefire plan for Gaza.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar12 September 2025 05:47

Qatar’s premier vows not to abandon negotiation efforts

Qatar’s prime minister accused Israel of ignoring the hostages in the Gaza Strip when it attacked Hamas leaders in Doha, but vowed not to abandon efforts to end the nearly two-year war.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Israel went “beyond any borders, any limitations” with the strike in Qatar’s capital this week, violating his country’s sovereignty and threatening regional peace.

“Israel is trying to rearrange the region by force,” he said. But “we will continue our humanitarian and diplomatic role without any hesitation in order to stop the bloodshed.”

Israel’s airstrike this week killed at least six people as Hamas leaders gathered to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. It risked upending negotiations that have been mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US and intensified Israel’s global isolation, including a condemnation of the strike from the UN Security Council.

“Extremists that rule Israel today do not care about the hostages — otherwise, how do we justify the timing of this attack?” the prime minister said. He told CNN that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was directly to blame for killing “any hope for those hostages.”In response, Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that “history will not be kind to accomplices”.

“Either Qatar condemns Hamas, expels Hamas, and brings Hamas to justice. Or Israel will,” Mr Danon said.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar12 September 2025 04:24

US joins Security Council’s condemnation of Doha attack

The US has joined members of the UN Security Council in issuing a joint statement which expressed “deep concern” without mentioning Israel by name and emphasising “de-escalation”.

Approved by the 15-member council, the statement also conveyed its solidarity with Qatar and the “vital role” it’s played in mediating peace efforts in recent years.

President Donald Trump has walked a delicate line between two major allies following the Israeli attack, saying the unilateral action “did not advance Israel or America’s goals”. He has said he’s “not thrilled about it” but also suggested that “this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.”

Qatar has hosted Hamas’ political leadership for years in Doha, in part over a request by the US to encourage negotiations to end the war that started with Hamas’ attack on Israel.

During the Security Council session, acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea repeated Trump’s sentiments and defended Israel’s decision to target Hamas leaders.

“Eliminating Hamas, which has profited from the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” she said.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar12 September 2025 04:21

Trump to meet Qatar’s PM today

US president Donald Trump is expected to meet Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani this evening in New York.

The duo will meet and discuss the aftermath of the Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in Doha, Axios reported.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar12 September 2025 04:11

Will Qatar regret $400m Trump jet after Israel’s attack in Doha?

Bryony Gooch12 September 2025 04:00

Hamas says Israel’s Doha strike against leaders sought to derail ceasefire efforts

An Israeli attack that targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar this week was an attempt to derail the ceasefire negotiations but would not change the Palestinian group’s terms for ending the war in Gaza, a Hamas official said on Thursday.

Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Doha on Tuesday, in what U.S. officials described as a unilateral escalation that did not serve American or Israeli interests.

In a televised address, Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said the strike was not only an attempt to assassinate the negotiating delegation, but a deliberate blow to the entire process and a clear message rejecting any ceasefire deal.

He also accused Israel of targeting the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt.

“This attack was a blatant confirmation by Netanyahu and his criminal gang of their refusal to reach any agreement and their insistence on derailing all regional and international efforts aimed at halting the genocide”, Barhoum said.

However, the group has not officially announced it would close the door on future talks.

Bryony Gooch12 September 2025 03:00

Satellite images show impact of Israeli airstrike on Hamas in Qatar

Bryony Gooch12 September 2025 02:00

Watch: Trump ‘very unhappy’ about Israel airstrike on Hamas leaders in Qatar

Trump ‘very unhappy’ about Israel airstrike on Hamas leaders in Qatar

Bryony Gooch12 September 2025 01:00

Netanyahu signs West Bank settlement expansion plan, rules out Palestinian state

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement on Thursday to push ahead with a controversial settlement expansion plan that would cut across land that the Palestinians seek for a state.

“There will never be a Palestinian state. This place is ours,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the Maale Adumim settlement in the West Bank where thousands of new housing units would be added.

“We will safeguard our heritage, our land, and our security.”

Last month, the E1 project, which would bisect the occupied West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, received final approval from a Defence Ministry planning commission.

Netanyahu was joined by nationalist members of his coalition, including far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who in August said a Palestinian state “is being erased from the table, not with slogans but with actions.”

Bryony Gooch12 September 2025 00:00

Italy issues warning to Israel over Gaza flotilla attack

Bryony Gooch11 September 2025 23:00