Israel’s airstrike in Doha, Qatar, marks a turning point in the already tense politics of West Asia. For the first time, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched an operation inside the territory of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state. The strike, named “Summit of Fire”, killed senior Hamas leaders, including chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, in a Doha residential area. While Israel celebrated this as a successful counter-terrorism move, the attack raises deeper questions about international law, Gulf sovereignty, and the future of diplomacy in the region.

A direct challenge to sovereignty

Qatar immediately condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly” and “criminal assault” that violated its sovereignty and international law. The Gulf monarchy is not just another state in the region; it is home to the US’s largest Middle Eastern airbase, Al Udeid, and has long acted as a mediator between Hamas and Israel during ceasefire talks. By striking Doha, Israel not only violated Qatar’s borders but also risked undermining a country central to peace negotiations. This bold move suggests that Israel is increasingly willing to expand its battlefield beyond Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria into the very heart of the Gulf.

This is not an isolated act. Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken, Israel has pursued a strategy of extraterritorial strikes. It has bombed Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and even assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024. Earlier this month, Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and intensified its offensive in Gaza. Qatar, however, is a different case. Unlike war-torn Lebanon or besieged Gaza, Qatar is a stable, wealthy Gulf state with deep ties to both Washington and the wider Arab world. By targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, Israel risks creating a new rift in Gulf politics.

What this means for Gulf diplomacy

The strike poses a major dilemma for Gulf states. On one hand, countries like the UAE and Bahrain have normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, seeking economic and security cooperation. On the other hand, Qatar’s experience will make GCC nations question whether Israel respects their sovereignty. If Israel can strike Doha today, what prevents similar actions tomorrow?

This creates pressure on Gulf diplomacy. Qatar may harden its stance and push other Arab states to reconsider their engagement with Israel. At the same time, the US—Israel’s chief ally and Qatar’s military partner, faces a credibility crisis. Washington cannot claim to defend Gulf security while allowing Israeli strikes in its closest partners’ capitals.

In many ways, Israel has crossed a red line. By attacking inside Qatar, it broke the line between active war zones and neutral mediators. This move shook the Gulf’s stability and pushed regional countries to rethink the risks of being close to Israel. Whether it leads to a major diplomatic break or a quiet adjustment will depend on how Gulf states balance their anger with their long-term interests. But one thing is certain: Israel’s strike in Doha has made Gulf diplomacy more fragile and uncertain.

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