Al-Thani called for a"regional response to such barbaric acts." The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas called the Israeli attack a "failure." The act was also condemned internationally."I'm not thrilled about this," said US President Donald Trump.

The United Nations Security Council will address the attack on Wednesday (9:00 p.m. CEST), according to diplomatic sources told the German Press Agency. Algeria, among others, had requested the emergency meeting.

Six people killed

According to Hamas, six people were killed in the Israeli surprise attack on Tuesday, including the son of the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad, Khalil al-Hayya, and his office chief. Al-Hayya is the highest-ranking Hamas leader abroad and also leads the Hamas delegation in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel. Al-Hayya spent most of his time in Qatar. Other senior Hamas officials abroad also mostly live in Qatar or Turkey. Israel had recently threatened attacks on Hamas leaders abroad.

Netanyahu: Attack on Hamas leadership"optimal and precise"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the airstrike, which media reports said involved several fighter jets and drones,"optimal and precise." He said it was a response to the deadly attack by two Hamas members in Jerusalem on Monday, which killed six people, and a deadly Hamas attack on soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

"The days when terrorist leaders enjoyed immunity anywhere in the world are over," Netanyahu said. Israel's enemies must know that Jews are no longer defenseless since the establishment of the State of Israel. The Israeli army broadcaster reported that the attack, codenamed"Fire Summit," was aimed at the remaining leadership of the Islamist organization.

Qatar: Were not informed in advance about Israel's attack

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid al-Ansari called reports that Qatar had been informed of the attack"completely false." He claimed that a US government official called Qatar at the moment the explosions were already heard. Al-Ansari contradicted an initial US account. US government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump had instructed his Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to inform Qatar of the impending attack.

The US president later added in a post on his Truth Social platform that Witkoff had informed Qatar, but it was too late to stop the attack. Asked how he learned of the attack, the Republican said Tuesday evening (local time) that he would issue a full statement this Wednesday."But I will tell you this: I was very unhappy about it. Very unhappy about every aspect of it."

Qatar wants to continue mediating

Qatar's Prime Minister Al-Thani spoke to journalists on Tuesday evening about a "blatant attack" and declared the Israeli attack a "decisive moment" for the region. At the same time, Al-Thani added that his country would continue to mediate between Israel and Hamas. Mediation is"an integral part of the country's identity," and nothing will "prevent Qatar from continuing to play this role in all issues that concern us in the region," he said in response to a journalist's question.

Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has so far mediated the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. However, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages have made no progress for months. Meanwhile, the Israeli government intends to completely take over Gaza City by military force. There are still 48 hostages in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are still alive, according to Israeli information. Relatives also expressed great concern about the fate of the hostages after the attack in Qatar.

Hamas said the attack on its negotiating delegation, which was about to discuss a mediation proposal from Trump, proved once again that Netanyahu and his government had no intention of reaching an agreement.

Austria"concerned," criticism from Paris, Berlin and London

The Foreign Ministry in Vienna expressed"deep concern" on X and Bluesky. These attacks"violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Qatar." "They endanger the hostages and undermine the negotiations on a much-needed ceasefire in Gaza. We call on everyone to refrain from further actions that endanger regional stability," the ministry posted.

French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized the Israeli airstrikes. They were"unacceptable, regardless of the reason," Macron wrote in the evening on the online service X."The war must under no circumstances spread to the region," the French president emphasized, expressing his"solidarity with Qatar and its Emir, Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the violation of Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity "unacceptable" in a telephone conversation with the Emir, according to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed similar criticism."I condemn Israel's attacks on Doha," he wrote on X, adding:"The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and a massive increase in aid to the Gaza Strip." This is "the only solution for a lasting peace."

Netanyahu: October 7 forgotten

Shortly after Macron's and Starmer's statements, Netanyahu criticized several Western countries for their stance in the Middle East conflict."Much of the world, including much of the democratic world, or at least the governments, have shamefully forgotten October 7," Netanyahu said in a speech at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, referring to the major Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which left around 1,200 dead and 250 kidnapped. Referring to October 7, Netanyahu added:"I don't forget, and Israel doesn't forget."