Reckless escalation: on Israel’s attack on Qatar 

Even by Israel’s own standards, its September 9 attack on Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders, was a reckless escalation of the regional conflict — one that could make peace in Gaza even harder to achieve. Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, Israel has bombed a number of Arab countries, besides devastating Gaza. Its strikes on Iran in June triggered a brief aerial war. Israel keeps attacking Syria, Lebanon and Yemen at will. But Qatar, a wealthy Gulf monarchy, is a U.S. ally that hosts America’s largest military base in West Asia, and a crucial mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. Yet, none of this deterred Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed “full responsibility” for the attack. Israeli jets targeted a house where Hamas leaders had reportedly assembled to discuss a ceasefire proposal. The strike drew sharp criticism and condemnation from across the world. Even U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel’s greatest ally with whose blessings Mr. Netanyahu is carrying out his genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza, said he was unhappy, while the White House has assured Qatar that there would be no more attacks.

Besides the flagrant violation of sovereignty, the Qatar strike risks setting back efforts to end the Gaza war. Qatar has long hosted Hamas’s political leadership, with the tacit approval of the U.S. and other world powers, to keep channels of negotiation open. Last month, Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by the mediators, but Mr. Netanyahu rejected it and vowed to press ahead with conquering famine-stricken Gaza City. Now, by attacking Hamas leaders in the mediator country, he has demonstrated his unwillingness to pursue peace. A ceasefire could threaten his government’s survival — and he appears willing to prolong the war, even at the cost of more Palestinian lives. The strike also delivers another blow to the already fragile Arab-Israel normalisation process. Saudi Arabia, which has walked back from normalisation talks since October 7, would find it harder to recognise an Israeli state that bombs its Gulf Arab neighbour. Israel’s unchecked military aggression also exposes the failure of Mr. Trump, who has called himself a “man of peace” with claims of having ended even the India-Pakistan conflict of May 2025. But when it comes to Israel, which is facing serious allegations of war crimes and genocide, he seems either unable or unwilling to use the leverage at his disposal. India should be alarmed by Israel’s move to expand the war to the Gulf, an energy-rich region where millions of Indians live. Prime Minister Modi has condemned the “violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty without naming Israel. India should be more forthright in opposing Israel’s regional war, and work with other regional and global powers to restore stability in West Asia.