Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue targeting Hamas officials abroad, including those based in Qatar, unless host countries expel or prosecute them — a declaration that has provoked a sharp diplomatic backlash from Doha.
Speaking on Wednesday, a day after an unprecedented Israeli airstrike in the Qatari capital reportedly targeted senior Hamas figures, Netanyahu doubled down on Israel’s cross-border military campaign, saying nations should “applaud” his government’s actions.
“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice — because if you don’t, we will,” he said.
The Israeli strike coincided with ongoing negotiations in Doha over a US-backed ceasefire proposal in Gaza, heightening tensions and drawing widespread condemnation.
In a strongly worded statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Netanyahu’s remarks as a “shameful attempt” to justify “a cowardly attack” on Qatari soil and warned against further threats to its sovereignty.
“Netanyahu is fully aware that the hosting of the Hamas office took place within the framework of Qatar’s mediation efforts requested by the United States and Israel,” the statement read.
Doha further accused Netanyahu of exploiting “extremist rhetoric” for political gain, describing him as “an individual wanted for international justice” and “increasingly isolated on the global stage” due to mounting sanctions.
The strike in Qatar is part of a broader Israeli military escalation across the region. In just three days, Israel has launched attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, and Qatar, while continuing its near-daily raids in the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday, at least 35 people were killed in a separate Israeli strike in Yemen.
Last week, Israel came under fire for deploying grenades near the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut commented: “Israel again has no problem meddling into the internal affairs of another country or violating international law and the sovereignty of other nations by getting involved in military conflicts.”
Source: Al Jazeera
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