๐️Lonny's War Update- October 705, 2023 - September 10, 2025 ๐️
๐️Day 705 that 48 of our hostages are still in Hamas captivity๐️
Hostage families express ‘grave fear’ that Doha strike could endanger the captives
Families forum warns of ‘price the hostages may pay’ for attack on Hamas chiefs, says prospect of their loved ones’ return from Gaza now more uncertain than ever
Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza and their supporters protest outside a US Embassy event in Jerusalem, calling for the release of the hostages, September 9, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)After Israel on Tuesday carried out airstrikes targeting Hamas leadership in the Qatari capital city Doha, family members of hostages held by terror groups in the Gaza Strip expressed anger, fear and despair over the future of negotiations to bring their loved ones home and end the war.
The strike targeted top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the terror group’s exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator. It took place while the leadership of Hamas was discussing the new US ceasefire proposal that Israel said it agreed to Tuesday, according to the Palestinian terrorist organization.
An Israeli official said that Israel was increasingly optimistic that they were killed, though Hamas sources claimed the top officials survived the attack.
In the wake of the attacks, initial reports said that Qatar informed Israel and the US that it would no longer serve as a mediator for Jerusalem, thereby suspending the talks entirely. Hours later, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that his country will remain in the role, despite the “treacherous” attack.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of the captives’ families, said it was “following the developments in Doha with deep concern and grave apprehension.”
“Grave fear now hovers over the price that the hostages may pay. We know from the survivors of captivity who have returned that the revenge directed against the hostages [after Israeli attacks] is cruel,” the forum said.
“The chance of their return now faces greater uncertainty than ever, with one thing that is absolutely certain — their time is running out,” it added.
The forum emphasized that “the true victory image will only be when they are all home.”
“We demand that the Israeli government present us with a structured plan for a comprehensive agreement for the return of the 48 hostages,” it concluded.
Einav Zanngauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker and a prominent activist, slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for ordering the strike on Doha, saying: “It could be that Netanyahu has sealed my son’s fate and blown up the deal. I am trembling with fear.
“It could be that in these very moments the prime minister has actually assassinated my Matan, sealed his fate,” she said. “Whoever decides to intentionally endanger my Matan’s life is murdering him.”
“Why does he insist on blowing up any chance of a deal?” she asked. “It’s about my child’s life.”
“Matan’s life hangs in the balance,” Zangauker added. “Again and again and again the prime minister sabotages the deal. I’m fed up! End this war already and bring everyone back in a comprehensive agreement.”
Visitors at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, September 4, 2025 (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)After the families expressed anguish at the strikes in Qatar, the government’s point man on hostages, Gal Hirsch, reportedly told them that Israel is working to protect their loved ones, asserting that leaders of the terror group living outside Gaza posed a “significant obstacle” in hostage negotiations.
According to Hebrew media reports, Hirsch sent a message to the families emphasizing that “we are monitoring the condition and location [of the hostages], especially in light of the developments of the past hours.”
Hirsch was quoted as saying that “consistently and over time, the Hamas leadership known as ‘Hamas abroad’ has been an obstacle to reaching an agreement.”
He was said to have told the families that Israel accepted US President Donald Trump’s latest proposal for a comprehensive hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas, and will continue pressing to advance the deal.
“We are steadfast in our mission — to bring back all the hostages. They are before our eyes 24 hours a day,” Hirsch reportedly wrote, adding that he was in Washington and available to the families at all times.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 48 hostages, including 47 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.
They include the bodies of at least 26 confirmed dead by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive, and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, Israeli officials have said. Among the bodies held by Hamas is an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014. link. This attack says only one thing that is crystal clear to everyone - Netanyahu doesn't want any deal! The timing of the attack, the location of the attack, the statements he has made about the attack, the fact that he didn't inform his BFF Trump, the total lack of transparency about anything having to do with the attack, the fact that the Mossad was against the attack and did not take any part in it. All of these factors prove once again that Netanyahu is willing to do anything to prevent a deal to end the war from being made. Trump's deal that he forced Netanyahu to agree to would have brought the war to an end and brought all the hostages home within a matter of days, at most 2 weeks. That does not fit in with Netanyahu's war for Political Survival time line. Although he agreed to Trump's plan, he didn't have any choice because Trump is the only person Netanyahu cannot say no to, Netanyahu found an out to destroy the deal and make sure that a deal like this won't come back on his table. By attacking a close ally of Trump's and one of the key negotiating partners for the hostages, Netanyahu wanted to make sure that Trump's word would not be accepted by Hamas to end the war. A big part of this deal was Trump's personal guarantee to Hamas that he would not allow Israel to return to fighting even if the negotiations go past the 60 day ceasefire. That is the only reason that Hamas would consider giving up their Aces on the first day, the release of all the hostages on Day one of the deal. An attack like this would implicate Trump at some level, even if he did not give the green light and make his personal guarantees worth less than zero in Hamas' eyes. Netanyahu proceeded with this attack on the basis of 'better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission' because he knew that Trump would never give the green light for this attack.
We know from returning hostages that their Hamas terrorist guards treated them more severely each time there was a breakdown in negotiations and worse still when the negotiations failed. They were tortured more severely, kept in worse conditions, given even less food and water, and threatened with weapons aimed at their heads constantly. Netanyahu's actions with this attack surely increases harshness of the already terrible conditions that the living hostages are dealing with. Many of them are already at death's door. Netanyahu may be the cause for their deaths either by harsher conditions or by executions by their terrorist guards. All of these things have been seen by other hostages and Netanyahu is fully aware of this. He cares nothing about the hostages' lives or their suffering or the suffering of their families, and he cares absolutely nothing about the cares and suffering of most of the population which wants to see this war end and the hostages brought home. The only thing that Netanyahu cares about is his political survival and the rehabilitation of his legacy. He strongly believes that this attack will only serve him positively in his goals and will use the attack, if it is finally deemed successful as an important part of his election campaign. If it is not deemed successful, he will immediately scapegoat whoever he feels he can direct his arrows, such as the Mossad for their refusal to participate in this attack. Of this we can be sure. He only takes responsibility for successes, even when they belong to others and he never ever takes responsibility for failures. They are always the failure of others.Gali and Ziv Berman mark second birthday in captivity, friend says: 'Haven't celebrated in a long time, it's complicated'
Hostages Gali and Ziv Berman are marking their second birthday in captivity today (28). Itai Zohar, their friend, shared in an interview with the ynet studio: "I grew up with them since I was eight years old, to this day they are an inseparable part of my life, two of my closest friends. Coincidentally, I share the same birth date with them." Zohar added that he cannot celebrate: "I haven't celebrated my birthday for a long time, it's a complicated day for me."
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*8:05pm yesterday - Houthis launched ballistic missile to Jerusalem and Dead Sea areas - intercepted successfully - no injuries or damage reported
Israel confirms bringing down Gaza apartment tower
The IDF confirms striking a high-rise tower in Gaza City a short while ago, saying the building was used by Hamas.
According to the military, Hamas installed surveillance equipment in the building that was used to track the movement of Israeli troops in the area and to advance attacks on Israel.
The IDF had issued an evacuation warning to Palestinians in the area before carrying out the strike video
Israel Attack on Hamas Leadership in Qatar
- There was so much written about the Israeli attack on Hamas Diaspora leadership in Qatar. - Lonny Baskin September 10, 2025
On the one hand, Israel claims that this attack was planned months in advance and was waiting for the best opportunity to execute the plan, when it would have the most impact. On the other hand, Netanyahu said it was a response to the terror attack yesterday in Jerusalem. Which was it?
The most pressing questions:
Why Now?
Did Trump give Netanyahu the green light?
If he didn't, what does that mean?
What happens to the deal on the table?
Why now?
Due to the Trump deal on the table, it was well known that the senior Hamas diaspora leadership was meeting in Doha and would all be together. This gave Israel a relatively easy target, albeit with multiple problems. Launching an attack in one of the 2 negotiating partners countries without their knowledge and permission is shooting ourselves in the foot. And to increase that problem, Netanyahu's BFF Trump has extremely close relations with Qatar and other countries' leaders in the region, so it is an attack on an ally of our closest ally.
But I believe that most important reason of why now is because of the Trump Deal that calls for an immediate end of the war and return of all the hostages on the first day. This is not a deal that was worked out with Netanyahu or Dermer. This deal with end the war without Netanyahu being able to tell his voter base that he accomplished what he promised to do, end Hamas. It leaves him vulnerable. It is just about guaranteed that Ben Gvir will leave the government and it is unclear if Smotrich will. The latest polls, unfortunately show Smotrich and his extremist racist party as crossing the electoral threshold to gain Knesset seats (4% of the total vote). He is feeling emboldened and might see leaving the government over a deal to end the war as beneficial to him in the next elections. Netanyahu has been actively getting ready for early elections but he was looking at the latter part of the first quarter of 2026 as the earliest to have them, if he couldn't keep his government together until the official date of elections, October 2026. If the Trump went through, it would happen within a week and his government would likely fall meaning elections would have to be held within 3 months, the beginning of January.
It is a deal that Trump put on the table and told Netanyahu that he has to accept it. Despite Netanyahu's public statements staying that he was weighing it, Trump publicly stated Israeli acceptance. Trump is the one person that Netanyahu cannot say no to, but that doesn't mean he can't try to go behind his back to scuttle the deal. At attack on Qatar and on the senior Hamas leadership is a perfect way to kill the deal.
Did Trump give Netanyahu the green light?
It is very hard to believe that Trump would give Netanyahu the green light for an attack on Qatari land. It would be a hit to his relationship, not just with Qatar but with all of the Arab leaders in the area. And equally bad for Trump, it would appear that he set up the Hamas leadership for assassination by Israel while demanding that they give a positive response to his deal to end the war. Giving the green light would be a direct hit to his reputation with all of the parties and would mean that Hamas, which doesn't have much trust in Trump to begin with, would never believe him. A major aspect of this deal and the only reason that Hamas would agree to release all hostages on the first day was going to be a personal guarantee by Trump, back up with real action that Israel would not go back to fighting even if all details can not be finalized within the 60 day ceasefire. A Trump deal in any fashion would be dead on arrival and so could Trump's possible receiving the coveted Nobel Peace Prize. For this alone, Netanyahu's action would be unforgivable.
If he didn't give the green light, what does that mean?
Trump has already said multiple times since yesterday that, not only did he not give the green light, he was only informed moments before the explosions of the attack and by the time his people notified Qatar, the attack was under way. Trump is most likely furious with Netanyahu, probably more than at any other time due to the potential damage that Netanyahu did to Trump, to his reputation with Qatar and all other Arab leaders, to his deal to end the war and bring back the hostages, and the possible derailing of his path to the Nobel Peace Prize. Will this cause him to read the riot act to Netanyahu and tell him to immediately end the war? Will he look to punish Netanyahu somehow? After all, Trump is a very vindictive person and never forgets a grudge. He already holds a grudge against Netanyahu for congratulating Joe Biden on winning the White House over Trump, and for convincing him to leave the Nuclear agreement with Iran promising that the Iranians will come begging on all fours to make a better deal, which never happened and was the direct cause of Iran's advancements in their nuclear program. It is hard to predict Trump's revenge on Netanyahu but we can hope that it will be good for Israel whatever it is.
What happens to the deal on the table?
This is the million dollar question. Trump will not be willing to let it go yet as it looked like Hamas was going to accept the deal, albeit with some demands for changes. With the attack on the Hamas leadership, what will their reaction be? Will they believe Trump that he didn't know about the attack and certainly didn't give the green light? As the major parts of the deal relied on Trump's personal guarantees, will those guarantees mean anything to Hamas now? They already didn't trust the Americans and Trump. Will they give any credences to Trump's guarantees now or does it mean that the deal is completely dead?
Netanyahu claims that the attack will make negotiating a deal and ending the war much easier and faster with better conditions for Israel than ever before. He said that it was the Hamas Diaspora leadership that constantly hardened conditions and made it impossible to close any deal. His claim is that the Gazan Hamas leadership (whatever remains of them) have been far more anxious to close a deal and end the war with release of all the hostages than the diaspora leadership. Look who's call the kettle black. It has been stated by many American officials involved in the negotiations and people from the Israeli negotiating team who have clearly said that Netanyahu is 90% responsible for preventing deals and Hamas 10%. Prior to the Sinwar killing, Sinwar was probably the most hard liner among Hamas leadership with respect to closing a deal, but it is all of the Hamas leadership, inside Gaza and outside that desperately wants to end the war, not at all costs but with their demands answered. This Trump deal was within days reach and the war could have ended within days or a week and the hostages could all be home on the first day. Because most of the details of the agreement would be negotiated during the 60 days ceasefire and beyond, if necessary, there was nothing standing in the way of getting all of our hostages home, except Netanyahu. He has, once again made reaching a deal and bringing home the hostages a much more difficult thing and potentially totally out of reach. He is to blame absolutely for the hostages remaining in captivity and their lives are more at risk than ever before.
Israel strikes Hamas Qatar-based leadership, awaits result; Hamas claims attack failed
Attack came as officials in terror group, including Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya, were discussing new US ceasefire proposal; Netanyahu says strike could pave way to ending war; Hamas says it shows he doesn’t want deal
While Israel confirmed the strike, dubbed “Operation Summit of Fire” by the Israel Defense Forces, and awaited the outcome, an official statement published by Hamas said that five people had been killed, but insisted none were members of the group’s senior leadership cadre.
The terror group said the dead were Himam al-Hayya, son of Khalil al-Hayya; Jihad Labad Abu Bilal, Khalil al-Hayya’s office director; and three “associates” — apparently bodyguards or advisers to senior Hamas officials — Abdullah Abu Khalil, Muaman Abu Omar, and Ahmad Abu Malek.
Despite claiming that Israel had failed in the operation, Hamas offered no immediate proof that its top leaders had survived. The terror group has been known in the past to only confirm the death of its leaders weeks or months after the fact.
Most of Hamas’s leadership in Gaza has been killed during the past two years of war with Israel, but until now, its political leadership abroad has been mostly untouched. Notable exceptions were former politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated on a visit to Iran, and his former deputy Saleh al-Arouri, who was killed in Beirut, both in 2024. Link
According to the statement, the dead are Himam al-Hayya, son of Hamas leader in Gaza Khalil al-Hayya; Jihad Labad Abu Bilal, Khalil al-Hayya’s office director; and three “associates” — apparently bodyguards or advisers to senior Hamas officials — Abdullah Abu Khalil, Muaman Abu Omar, and Ahmad Abu Malek.
In the statement, Hamas said that the attack on the delegation while it was discussing the American ceasefire proposal “proves that Netanyahu and his government are not interested in reaching any agreement.”
Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, offered no immediate proof that its top leaders had survived.
The Qatari Interior Ministry announces that one member of the “internal security forces” was killed in the Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Doha and several were injured.
The statement also says that Qatari security forces continue to secure the area hit by the strike.
Reports say that Qatar has been guarding the building where Hamas leaders would meet since October 7, 2023.
Channel 12 says that Qatar is using bulldozers at the site to try to bring out the bodies, adding that four bodies have been recovered so far.
Trump stated that the attack doesn’t advance the goals. He called the Emir to state that an attack like this will never happen again.
Trump directed top aide to warn Qatar that Israel attack was coming, White House saysWhite House released a statement regarding Israel's strike on Doha.US President Donald Trump believes Israel's strike on Hamas targets in Qatar was unfortunate, and he directed a top aide, Steve Witkoff, to warn Qatar that the attack was coming, the White House said on Tuesday.Trump spoke to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar after the strikes, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. He assured the Qatari leader that "such a thing will not happen again on their soil."Qatar disputes the claims if the White House that they informed Qatar before the attack
Qatar, other Arab countries tear into Israel for strike on Hamas leaders in Doha
Qatari official says strikes undermine chance for hostage deal; Saudis say ‘deploying all capabilities’ to support Gulf ally; Turkey condemns Israeli ‘terrorism as a state policy’
Qatar and Arab and Middle Eastern countries on Tuesday strongly condemned the Israeli strikes that targeted Hamas leaders gathered in Doha as a violation of international law and Qatar’s sovereignty.
According to Israeli officials, the strike was aimed at top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the terror group’s exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator. An official said that Israel was increasingly optimistic that they were killed, though Hamas sources claimed the top officials survived the attack.
Saying that the strike “targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said that the “criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
Ansari added that Qatar “will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty.”
Qatar is investigating “at the highest level,” he said.
According to a senior Qatari official, the strikes came as Doha was working to advance the ceasefire and hostage deal framework crafted last week by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
This frame grab taken from an AFPTV footage shows smoke billowing after an Israeli strike in Doha’s capital Qatar on September 9, 2025. (Photo by Jacqueline PENNEY / AFPTV / AFP)“Hamas received the new US proposal from us, which we obtained from Witkoff last week in Paris,” the official said, adding that “Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Hamas negotiators yesterday.”
“The Hamas delegation then decided to meet again today to discuss the proposal, traveling from Turkey to Qatar, where the strike took place,” the official added.
“However, as has happened before, the Israelis undermined hopes for peace, further prolonging the war and complicating efforts to bring back the hostages,” the senior Qatari official said in a statement.
The official’s account was corroborated by a Hamas official in Gaza, who told AFP that the group’s leaders had gathered to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal when they were targeted by Israel.
“In a new Zionist crime, the Hamas negotiating delegation was targeted during its meeting in Doha, while discussing [US] President [Donald] Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the issue.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said hours before the strikes on Tuesday that Israel accepted the new US proposal, and that “the war in Gaza can end tomorrow,” if Hamas agrees to release all hostages and to disarm.Qatari officials met with Hamas leaders in Doha on Monday and publicly urged them to accept the proposal. However, after the attack on its territory, Qatar informed Israel that it was suspending its role as a mediator, according to unconfirmed reports in Hebrew media, effectively shutting down the negotiations that had been taking place in Doha.
Middle Eastern leaders blast Israel for ‘flagrant violation’
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also condemned the strikes and called Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani to offer support, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
The crown prince offered Saudi Arabia’s “full support for the sisterly State of Qatar, and its condemnation of the blatant Israeli attack on the sisterly State of Qatar, which constitutes a criminal act and a flagrant violation of international laws and norms,” the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia also said it is “deploying all its capabilities” to support Qatar and “the measures it is taking to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty.”
The United Arab Emirates, the only major Gulf country with diplomatic ties to Israel, condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed said the country was in “full solidarity with dear Qatar.”
Jordan also sharply condemned the attack, with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi calling it “a blatant violation of international law, a serious threat to the security of the brotherly Qatari people and residents of Qatar, and an extension of the brutal Israeli aggression that threatens the security and stability of the region.”
“Israel will continue to persist in its aggression,” he continued, “its brutal wars, its violations of international law, and its threat to regional and international peace and security unless the international community, especially the Security Council, takes the necessary steps to deter it and curb its aggression.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack as “blatant Israeli aggression against Qatar.”
In a statement from his office, Abbas said the airstrikes were “a grave violation of international law and an escalation that threatens security and stability in the region.”
The statement added that “the solution lies in a just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian cause.”
Turkey said the attack proved that Israel is not interested in peace, and that it has adopted “terrorism as a state policy.”
“The targeting of the Hamas negotiating delegation while ceasefire talks continue shows that Israel does not aim to reach peace, but rather continue the war,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“This situation is clear proof that Israel has adopted its expansionist politics in the region and terrorism as a state policy,” it added.
Israel says strikes were a response to Monday’s attacks
Israel, for its part, said the strikes were “fully justified.” In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said it was a direct response to the deadly shooting in Jerusalem and attack on an Israeli tank in northern Gaza that took place on Monday.
According to the statement, Netanyahu told security agencies Monday night to prepare for a strike on Hamas leaders abroad, and Katz had “fully supported the move.”
Then, an “operational opportunity” was identified at noon on Tuesday, the statement added, and the IDF and Shin Bet received the green light to go ahead with the attack.
“The prime minister and defense minister believed the operation was fully justified, given that this Hamas leadership was the one that initiated and organized the October 7 massacre,” Netanyahu and Katz said, “and has since continued to carry out murderous attacks against Israel and its citizens, including taking responsibility for the murder of our civilians in yesterday’s attack in Jerusalem.” Link
Qatari PM says Doha will continue mediation efforts, reserves right to respond to Israeli attack
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani addresses a press conference following Israeli strikes in Doha on September 9, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFPQatar’s prime minister warns his country reserves the right to respond to Israel’s deadly attack on Hamas in Doha, calling it a “pivotal moment” for the region, but says his country will continue mediation efforts.
“Qatar… reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani tells a press conference.
“We believe that today we have reached a pivotal moment. There must be a response from the entire region to such barbaric actions,” he adds.
Al-Thani says that despite the attack, Qatar will continue mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
“Nothing will deter us from continuing this mediation in the region,” Al Thani says.
Earlier, diplomatic sources said Qatar would temporarily halt efforts.
Qatar threatens response to Israel's 'terrorist attack'
Prime Minister Al-Thani said: 'There must be a response'; He claimed that, contrary to previous reports, U.S. officials warned Doha about the attack 10 minutes after it had already begun: 'This day can only be described in one word - betrayal. There is a rogue actor in the region, Netanyahu is leading to an irreversible escalation'
Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Mohammed Al-Thani, said Tuesday evening, hours after Israel’s unprecedented strike inside the Gulf state, that a legal team has been established to examine Doha’s response.“Qatar will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reserves the right to respond,” Al-Thani said. “Qatar today was subjected to an Israeli terrorist attack aimed at undermining stability and security in the region. We have reached a critical moment, and there must be a response to these actions.”Al-Thani claimed that U.S. officials warned Qatar about the Israeli strike 10 minutes after it had already begun, when explosions were heard in the capital, Doha. “Security forces responded immediately to the incident, in which there were dead and wounded. We will not tolerate any violation of our sovereignty, and we will deal firmly with any security breach,” he said.The prime minister accused Israel of destabilizing the region. “The attack is a message to the region that there is a rogue actor and political chaos. Netanyahu is leading the region toward irreversible escalation,” he said. “The strike violated not only international law but also moral standards. Today can only be described in one word — betrayal. Negotiations continue at the request of the United States, but Israel acted to sabotage these efforts.”Shortly after the strike, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli operation, which the IDF and Shin Bet said targeted Hamas leaders abroad. “Qatar condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of Hamas’ political bureau in Doha, the capital of Qatar,” the statement said.“This attack constitutes a violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qatari citizens and residents,” the Foreign Ministry said. Qatar, which has faced sharp criticism for funding Hamas, also maintains close ties with the United States and has acted as a mediator in negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.According to reports, during a call between President Donald Trump and the emir of Qatar, Trump “expressed solidarity with Doha and condemned the violation of its sovereignty.” Trump also urged the emir to continue mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza despite the developments. The emir condemned the strike, blamed Israel for its consequences, and said it was “delaying efforts to de-escalate tensions.” He added: “Israel is pursuing an aggressive policy that threatens the security and stability of the region.”The statements came shortly after White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said the U.S. military had updated Doha immediately after President Trump was informed by the American military of Israel’s operation. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari later rejected claims that Qatar had been warned in advance, writing on X: “The claims that Qatar was informed in advance of the strike are false. The call from an American official came while explosions were already being heard as a result of the attack.”In her statement, Leavitt also confirmed that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the strike. “Prime Minister Netanyahu told President Trump that he wants to make peace quickly, and the president believes this unfortunate incident can serve as an opportunity for peace,” she said.Trump also spoke with Qatar’s emir and prime minister, thanking them for their support and friendship and promising that “such a thing will not happen again on your soil.” Leavitt added: “The president immediately directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the expected strike, and he did so. The president sees Qatar as a strong ally and friend, and deeply regrets the location of this strike.” LinkTrump pans Israel for striking in Doha but says ‘eliminating Hamas’ is a ‘worthy goal’
US president says he tried to alert ‘strong ally’ Qatar of attack targeting Hamas chiefs but Witkoff couldn’t relay message in time, adds that he spoke with Netanyahu, who ‘wants peace’
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered somewhat contradictory statements regarding Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar.
On the one hand, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Israeli strike “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” Trump added.
“I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE.” he claimed.
Trump said he was tipped off by the US military about the Israeli strike in Doha and that he immediately directed US special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatar of what was coming — “which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack.”
“This [strike] was a decision made by Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu. It was not a decision made by me,” the US president stressed.
Trump made a point of hailing Qatar, saying the Gulf mediating country is “working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 9, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)“I view Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the US and feel very badly about the location of the attack,” he said.
Trump reiterated his desire to see the release of all hostages and an end to the war “NOW!”
He noted that he spoke with Netanyahu after the Israeli strike and Netanyahu relayed that “he wants to make peace.”
Trump added that he also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their “support and friendship to our country.”
“I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil,” Trump said, adding that he has also directed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize the defense cooperation agreement with Qatar.
Trump’s post was nearly identical to a statement issued by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press conference several hours earlier.
Europe fumes over ‘unacceptable’ strikes
The attack was met with a steady flow of condemnations throughout the afternoon and evening, both from across the region and from Israel’s allies in Europe.
The strikes “violate Qatar’s sovereignty and risk further escalation across the region,” wrote British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X, urging “an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also took to X, declaring the strikes to be “unacceptable, whatever the reason.”
“Under no circumstances should the war spread throughout the region,” he added.
A damaged building in Qatar after an Israeli airstrike targeted Hamas’s leadership on September 9, 2025. (Screencapture/Reuters)Spain, which has seen its relationship with Israel deteriorate in recent days, also waded into the fray.
In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Madrid declared that the attacks violated “Qatari territorial sovereignty” in a “flagrant breach of international law,” and called for “an immediate end to violence and a return to diplomatic negotiations.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hit back at Spain, retorting on X that, after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced nine punitive measures against Israel for its wartime conduct in Gaza, “Yesterday – Hamas praised Spain’s decisions against Israel. Today – Spain condemned Israel’s strike against Hamas terrorist leaders.”
“This is how true partnership looks like,” Sa’ar quipped.
Germany, Israel’s closest ally bar the US, was disapproving, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calling the attack “unacceptable.” Link
Israeli sources said to be increasingly dubious of Qatar strike’s success
Israeli officials quoted anonymously in several Hebrew-language news sites appear to cast increasing doubt on the success of a strike in Qatar targeting the leaders of the Hamas terror group’s politburo yesterday.
“Right now there’s no indication that the terrorists were killed,” an anonymous source is quoted telling Channel 12 news. “We continue to hope they were assassinated, but optimism is fading.”
Similar sentiments are reported by the Kan public broadcaster.
In Ynet, Ronen Bergman writes that two sources from the defense and intelligence community told him that, in his words, they are “pessimistic regarding the lethality of the strike on most of the targets, and perhaps all of them.” He adds that a battle damage assessment is ongoing.
He adds however, that another source noted that at least one part of the mission was accomplished: striking fear into the hearts of Hamas’s political leaders.
Hamas said in a statement Tuesday that its top leaders survived the strike but that five lower-level members were killed, including the son of Khalil al-Hayya — Hamas’s leader for Gaza and its top negotiator — as well as three bodyguards and the head of al-Hayya’s office.
Hamas, which has sometimes only confirmed the assassination of its leaders months later, has offered no proof that al-Hayya and other senior figures had survived.
The Mossad promised to Qatar – "We will not attack on your land," but the meeting of the senior officials shuffled the cards
After an unusual declaration of the Chief of Staff Zamir, in Qatar they feared from the possibility of assassinations on the territory of the state • Israel and the White House conveyed calming messages, except that when the senior officials of the terror organization decided to meet – Israel carried out the attack • The Qataris "were astounded and felt betrayed," the senior commentator of the Washington Post warned: "Qatar’s status as a mediator was harmed, Israel lost a channel for conveying messages toward Hamas" • Report
Israel and the United States conveyed to Qatar messages that Hamas men who are on the territory of the state would not be a target for Israeli attack, thus according to Qatari sources who spoke today (Wednesday) with David Ignatius, the senior commentator of the Washington Post.
Against the background of the transfer of the promises, in Qatar "they were astounded and felt betrayed" after the Israeli attack yesterday, that was directed toward a gathering of senior Hamas in Doha.
According to the report, Qatar feared the possibility of an Israeli attack, after at the end of last month the Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned that "most of the Hamas leadership that remained is abroad – and we will reach them too." Qatar requested guarantees from Israel, and the Mossad and the White House clarified that an action would not be carried out on Qatari land. A Qatari source told that the attack yesterday "came as a complete surprise."
The action in the capital of Qatar, that was carried out after the transfer of the calming messages from the United States and also from Israel – destroyed Qatar’s role as a mediator in the conflict, thus according to the commentator of the Washington Post. Qatar, according to his words, was one of the effective channels for transferring messages to the Hamas leaders in Gaza. T
he Israeli action dragged condemnations also from the international community. The spokeswoman of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, said that "a unilateral attack in Qatar, that works very hard and courageously takes risks with us in order to mediate for peace, does not promote the goals of Israel or America." The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany published even sharper condemnations.
The reason for the meeting of the senior officials The strike of the Hamas top was carried out at the time that in the United States they are waiting for the response of the terror organization to the new proposal of President Trump for a deal for the release of hostages. The gathering of senior Hamas was intended in order to discuss the details of that framework.The Senior Hamas leaders who were targeted in the attack
An Arab source described the chain of events before the attack: The Prime Minister of Qatar met with representatives of Hamas on Monday in order to discuss the proposal that the envoy of Trump, Steve Witkoff, submitted last week in Paris. The representatives of Hamas decided to meet yesterday in order to discuss the proposal. Israel, that apparently knew about the gathering in Doha, chose to take advantage of the opportunity – and to strike on Qatari land.
The results of the Israeli strike are not yet known. Hamas announced yesterday that senior officials of the organization, Khalil al-Hayya and other leaders, survived the strike. However, according to Hamas, the son of al-Hayya, three bodyguards, and a Qatari security officer were killed.
In Israel they are acting also this morning in order to understand if the attempt of assassination of senior Hamas succeeded. An Israeli source who spoke with N12 admitted: "There is still a question mark around this operation. At the moment there is no indication that the terrorists were eliminated." According to his words, "We are still continuing to hope that they were eliminated, but the optimism has gone down."
The Minister of Defense Israel Katz sent this morning another threat to senior Hamas, without relating directly to the results of the strike. "The security policy of Israel is clear – Israel’s long arm will act against its enemies everywhere. There is no place where they will be able to hide," he wrote. He added: "Everyone who was a partner to the massacre of October 7 will be brought fully to justice. Everyone who operates terror against Israel will be harmed. If the murderers and rapists of Hamas will not accept the conditions of Israel for ending the war and at their head the release of all the hostages and the dismantling of their weapons – they will be destroyed and Gaza will be ruined." link
Army razes homes of Palestinians accused of deadly 2024 West Bank attack
IDF troops demolished the homes of two Palestinian terrorists who carried out a deadly shooting attack in the West Bank last year, the military says.
According to the IDF, Abd al-Arouf Masri and Ahmed Abu Ara were among members of a Hamas cell that carried out the shooting on August 11, 2024, at the Mehola Junction on Route 90, the main north-south artery in the Jordan Valley, killing Yonatan Deutsch, 23, and wounding Anas Jaramana, 32.
Abu Ara was killed in a drone strike on August 16, 2024 and Masri was killed in an exchange of fire with troops on October 8, 2024.
The army says troops demolished the homes of the two gunmen, in the West Bank village of Aqabah yesterday.
The IDF previously announced that it had razed the home of a Palestinian gunman accused of carrying out a deadly December 2024 shooting attack yesterday.
As a matter of policy, Israel demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly terror attacks.
The process of razing a terrorist’s home usually takes months as their family can appeal to the High Court against the move, and the military waits for “optimal conditions” to carry out the demolition. link The supposed purpose of house demolitions of terrorists is to deter additional terrorism, yet there have been no studies that show that it is, in fact a deterrence. There have been multiple periods of time that the opposite effect was seen. In both the First and Second Intifada, increases of terrorism occurred following home demolitions. "Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, deputy president of the Supreme Court, wrote that one could not claim that the policy of destroying homes achieves deterrence without providing data that proves it is effective, even after years of experience in the field. And yet, this view was not adopted by Rubinstein's peers." (link)
What is absolutely understood is that every house demolition creates additional and increasing hatred of the occupier Israel and most likely contributes to more youths joining the extremist terror organizations.Palestinian man with special needs reportedly attacked by settlers in West Bank
A Palestinian man with special needs was reportedly assaulted by Israeli settlers outside of his home during an attack in the village of Yabrud northeast of Ramallah.
The young man has been evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment.
There are no reports of any arrests in what has become a near-daily occurrence in the West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces does not immediately comment on the latest incident, which was reported by Palestinian media. link For the settler terrorists, no Palestinian is off limits. Whether they knew and understood that their victim was someone with special needs wouldn't have made any difference. Terrorist attack anyone and everyone in order to cause damage and instill terror, therefore everyone in front of them is considered fair game. There is no report of any arrest, nor will there be. The IDF which has the international legal responsibility for protection of local residents under the occupation has no comment and we will not see any comment. The settler terrorists, as Israelis are under the legal jurisdiction of Israel and not the IDF and as such, have full immunity by the minister in charge of the police as he is a convicted criminal for supporting and belonging to a terrorist organization and spent his legal career defending Jewish Terrorists. There is no justice for the Palestinians in any of these Settler Terror attacks under this corrupt, extremist, failed government, which has senior ministers who encourage, support and protect settler terrorism against Palestinians.
- Politics and the War and General News
Crown princes from UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia heading to Qatar
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein are expected to visit Qatar today, an official with knowledge of the matter says.
The visit does not appear to be pre-planned and may come in response to an Israeli attack a day ago targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to arrive in Doha on Thursday, the official adds.
EU set to consider downgrading Israel trade ties, sanctions on far-right ministers
The European Commission will propose sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers and a partial suspension of the European Union’s association agreement with Israel, targeting trade-related matters, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says.
“What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world,” von der Leyen says in a State of the Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, acknowledging divisions within Europe on how to move forward and pledging that the commission will do what it can on its own.
On Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Commission had a roster of possible sanctions ready to go, but could not reach consensus with all members of the 27-nation bloc to implement any.
A suspension of the trade chapter of the agreement would withdraw trade preferences for Israeli products to enter the EU market and would require a qualified majority vote among EU governments, according to a July options paper prepared by the bloc’s diplomatic service.
The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of Israel’s total international trade in goods last year.
A qualified majority is reached with the support of 15 out of 27 members representing 65% of the EU population, still a difficult threshold to reach at a time when European capitals continue to have diverging views on how to approach Israel and Gaza.
Von der Leyen also says that the Commission will put its bilateral support for Israel on hold, without affecting work with Israeli civil society and Yad Vashem.
The Commission had previously proposed curbing Israeli access to its flagship research funding program but failed to garner sufficient support from EU member countries for the move.
Diplomats say Germany’s view on the proposal is key, and Germany has said it is so far unconvinced.
The Commission chief says the body will set up a Palestine Donor Group next month, including an instrument for Gaza reconstruction.
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Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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