Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani blasted Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu after the Doha strike on Hamas leaders, calling it “barbaric state terror” and accusing Israel of sabotaging hostage talks.
Tensions in the Gulf exploded on Wednesday as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani unleashed a fierce attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Israel’s unprecedented strike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas operatives.
In an exclusive CNN interview, Al Thani branded the operation “barbaric” and “state terror”, accusing Israel of crushing hopes for the release of hostages in Gaza.
“We were thinking that we are dealing with civilized people,” Al Thani declared. “And the action that Netanyahu took—I cannot describe it, but it’s a barbaric action.”
The Qatari leader confirmed that a 22-year-old Qatari security officer was killed, while others remain in danger. The fate of Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is still unclear, with “no official declaration” on whether he survived.
Al Thani also dismissed Netanyahu’s role in ceasefire talks, charging:
“He wasn’t serious about anything. The negotiations were meaningless.”
Qatar, long a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, is now “reassessing everything” about its role, while holding “very detailed conversations” with Washington. Still, Al Thani vowed Qatar would not abandon mediation, warning both Israel and Hamas that they are “running out of chances” to reach a deal.
Hours after the strike, Al Thani accused Israel of “state terrorism” and warned that Qatar “reserves the right” to respond.
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Donald Trump voiced unease:
“I’m not thrilled about it. Not thrilled about the whole situation… We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the US had informed Qatar ahead of the strike — a claim flatly contradicted by Al Thani, who insisted Qatar was notified ten minutes after the attack.
The fiery clash marks a dangerous escalation: Israel defending its right to target Hamas leaders worldwide, and Qatar, a host of Hamas leadership, accusing Netanyahu of derailing diplomacy with bombs over Doha.
