Kuwait slams Israel strike on Qatar as ‘grave threat’

09/09/2025

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9, (Agencies): Kuwait vehemently denounced on Tuesday the Israeli occupation’s attack on Qatar, calling it a dangerous threat to the region’s security and stability. The Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that this is a blatant violation to all international laws, directly undermining international safety and peace. Kuwait reiterated the necessity for the Security Council to take responsibility in safeguarding international peace and security and take serious steps to put an end to the systematic Israeli occupation’s aggression against the region. Kuwait expressed its total support to Qatar in all the measures it would take to preserve its stability and sovereignty, and guarantee the safety of its nationals and residents.

Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas’ leadership in Qatar on Tuesday as it considered a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked a stunning escalation and risked upending talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. Qatar, an energy-rich U.S. ally hosting thousands of American troops, had served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas even before the war. It condemned what it referred to as a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms” as smoke rose over its capital, Doha. It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the strike. Hamas has survived numerous assassinations of top leaders and is still intact in Gaza, despite having suffered major blows since the outbreak of the war triggered by its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The future of the long-stalled ceasefire talks was more uncertain, as Israel gears up for a major offensive aimed at taking over Gaza City.

That escalation has been met with heavy international condemnation and opposition within Israel from those who fear it will doom the remaining hostages. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying “all parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.” Israel has long threatened to strike Hamas leaders wherever they are. While it has often welcomed Qatar’s role as a mediator, alongside Egypt, it has also accused the Gulf nation of not putting enough pressure on the group. In contrast to previous Israeli operations against senior militants abroad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to publicly claim the strike, saying: “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility.” He said the decision was taken on Monday after a shooting attack in Jerusalem that killed six people and an attack on Israeli forces in Gaza that killed four soldiers. Israel alerted the U.S. ahead of time, according to an Israeli official and another person familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

There was no official comment from the White House or Pentagon. The Israeli military said it used “precise munitions and additional intelligence” in the strike, without elaborating. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosions. Qatar condemned what it referred to as a “cowardly Israeli attack” on Hamas’ political headquarters in Doha. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari called it a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms” and said Qatar “will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior.”

The U.S. Embassy in Qatar said it had instituted a shelter-in-place order for its facilities. Egypt, which has also served as a key mediator with Hamas, condemned the attack, saying it targeted Palestinian leaders who had met “to discuss ways to reach a ceasefire agreement.” It said the strike was a “direct assault” on Qatar’s sovereignty. The main group representing families of the hostages expressed “deep concern and great fear” after the strike. “The prospect of their return now faces greater uncertainty than ever, with one thing certain - their time is running out,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.