Doha Under Fire: An Unprecedented Attack

On September 9, 2025, Israel bombed Qatar’s capital, Doha, in an open act of aggression against a sovereign and non-belligerent state. The operation, named “Summit of Fire” (Cumbre de Fuego) and in Hebrew “Pisgat HaEsh” (Summit of Fire), was directed at political leaders of Hamas who were gathered for ceasefire negotiations.

Bombing the very heart of Doha is not an isolated episode: it is part of a unilateral, borderless war strategy that Israel has deployed against Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and even Iran. The international community reacted with consternation, but without concrete measures. Declarations and warnings multiplied, while Israel reaffirmed its right to act “wherever necessary.” In truth, what happened amounts to a declaration of war against Qatar, muted by the impunity granted by U.S. backing.

Two Days That Changed the Conflict Map

September 8, Gaza and the West Bank. At dawn, the Israeli Defense Minister warned of a “mighty hurricane” over Gaza City if hostages were not released. Residential neighborhoods in Shejaiya and Zeitoun were bombed, leaving dozens dead, including women and children. In the West Bank, two Palestinian teenagers were killed by Israeli soldiers near Nablus.

September 9, Gaza City. At 10:00 a.m. (UTC+3), the Israel Defense Forces ordered the total evacuation of the city, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee without a clear destination. The United Nations denounced that 90 percent of the Gazan population is already on the move and that the cost of transport—exceeding 1,000 dollars per family—makes compliance with the order impossible.

September 9, Doha. At 4:00 p.m. (UTC+3), missiles launched by Israeli aircraft struck the Katara residential district in Doha. Videos showed thick smoke, burning cars, and families fleeing among shattered glass. Israel confirmed it had attacked the Hamas headquarters. Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of the movement in Gaza and chief negotiator, survived, although reports indicate that his son and his chief of staff were killed. Qatar condemned the bombing as a “cowardly criminal act”, denouncing the violation of its sovereignty.

Residential Neighborhoods as Battlegrounds

The attack did not occur in an isolated military enclave, but in an urban neighborhood of Doha. Damage extended to private homes, commercial establishments, and cultural spaces in Katara. Witnesses described scenes of civilian panic, with ambulances carrying victims suffering from burns and trauma. Although Israel insisted the target was exclusively Hamas, the facts reveal another picture: a bombing that placed innocent Qatari civilians in direct danger.

Khalil al-Hayya and Political Decapitation

Khalil al-Hayya, born in Gaza in 1960, is a member of Hamas’s political bureau and the group’s number two in the enclave, under Yahya Sinwar. His role is political and diplomatic, not military. He has been a key figure in dialogue efforts in Cairo and Doha, and his personal biography—marked by the loss of family members in Israeli bombings in 2007 and 2014—turned him into both a symbol of resistance and an indispensable negotiator.

Attacking al-Hayya in the midst of negotiations was not only an attempt to eliminate a leader: it was a blow directed against the political and administrative structure of Gaza’s de facto government, whose representatives are civilians, not armed combatants. The message is clear: Israel seeks to destroy the very possibility of a political interlocutor.

The Cowardice of Bombing the Negotiating Table

The operation reveals a cowardly nature for several reasons. The location: the strike occurred in the capital of a mediating state, under whose protection peace talks were taking place. The targets: they were civilian negotiators, not armed combatants. Attacking them violates the principle of good faith in diplomacy. The collateral damage: missiles struck residential areas, endangering Qatari families unconnected to the conflict. The guaranteed impunity: Israel claimed responsibility with pride, knowing that no sanctions would follow. It was an act of bullying, backed by U.S. power.

International Law Reduced to Ashes

The bombing of Doha fits the definition of an act of aggression under United Nations Resolution 3314 (1974): “the bombardment by the armed forces of a State against the territory of another State” constitutes aggression. Qatar neither attacked Israel nor allowed attacks from its territory. Legally, what occurred amounts to a covert declaration of war.

International statements. Majed al-Ansari, Qatari spokesperson: “A cowardly criminal act that violates our sovereignty and constitutes an affront to all international law.” António Guterres, UN: “A flagrant violation of a member state’s sovereignty and a blow to mediation efforts.” Arab League: “Israel has crossed every red line, turning Arab capitals into theaters of war.”

A War Against All Neighbors, a Warning to the Entire Planet

The attack on Doha is inscribed in a regional offensive. Gaza: 90 percent of the population displaced, more than 58,000 dead. Lebanon: bombings in Bekaa and the Litani Valley. Syria: strikes near the Ministry of Defense in Damascus. Yemen: air raids on Sana’a and Hodeidah, killing the Houthi prime minister. Iran: Operation “Rising Lion” (León Ascendente) devastated military facilities, unleashing an open twelve-day war. Israel no longer acts as a state in self-defense, but as an unrestrained power that arrogates to itself the right to strike wherever it pleases.

Epilogue: Living Under the Law of the Strongest

The bombing of Doha epitomizes institutionalized impunity. In truth, it amounts to a declaration of war against Qatar, diluted by empty communiqués. Mechanisms do exist to sanction Israel—states could impose measures, suspend agreements, freeze assets, limit flights. They do not, because behind Israel stands the muscle of the world’s greatest military power.

While Gaza burns, Lebanon resists, Syria bleeds, Yemen sinks, and Iran faces the shadow of another offensive, Doha has now been added to the list of bombed capitals. Israel has become the neighborhood bully, and with every day that passes without an effective response, the world confirms what everyone knows but few dare to say: today, humanity lives under the law of the strongest.