Israel Vows to Target Hamas Leaders “Wherever They Are” as Qatar Hosts Emergency Summit – 15 September 2025

Israel Warns It Will Target Hamas Leaders “Wherever They Are” as Qatar Hosts Emergency Summit

On 15 September 2025, tensions across the Middle East escalated sharply when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would strike Hamas leaders “wherever they are.” The statement came during an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, Qatar, convened after a deadly Israeli airstrike on the Qatari capital the previous week.

Doha Airstrike and Regional Outrage

On 9 September, an Israeli strike in Doha killed five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer, while senior Hamas leaders reportedly survived. The attack rattled regional diplomacy and raised concerns about Qatar’s ongoing mediation role. Addressing the summit, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned the strike as a “cowardly and peace-sabotaging act,” warning it threatened fragile ceasefire negotiations.

U.S. Role and Mediation Efforts

The summit coincided with a joint Egyptian-Qatari initiative to revive a U.S.-backed peace proposal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense but urged Doha to continue humanitarian and mediation efforts. Rubio stressed that diplomacy remained “the only sustainable path to stability.”

Intensifying Israeli Operations

Netanyahu’s warning underscored an already intensifying Israeli campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began nearly two years ago. Overnight Israeli airstrikes on 15 September destroyed a 16-story residential building, hit two homes and a temporary encampment, and killed at least 16 civilians, local officials reported.

Summit Resolution and Possible Sanctions

Delegates from more than a dozen Arab and Islamic nations labeled Israel’s actions “military aggression, ethnic cleansing, and a violation of international law.” The draft resolution threatened “practical measures,” including potential trade restrictions, suspension of diplomatic relations, and closure of airspace, should Israel continue cross-border strikes.

Diplomatic Stakes

Regional analysts warn that Israel’s vow to pursue Hamas leaders anywhere could destabilize Qatar and other mediator states, complicating efforts to broker even a temporary ceasefire. Egypt and Qatar pledged to press on with peace talks, but Netanyahu’s uncompromising stance signals that military operations will not pause.

The escalating confrontation now places renewed pressure on the United Nations and the European Union to craft a joint response capable of preventing further civilian casualties and a wider regional conflict.