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Israel’s military strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, on 9 September 2025, can be justified by understanding the needs of national security, self-defence, and the broader context of ongoing conflict.

While any use of force in a sovereign nation raises significant diplomatic and ethical questions, Israel’s actions align with its longstanding policy of targeting individuals and groups deemed existential threats.

Below, I’ll outline key justifications based on available reports and Israel’s strategic imperatives.

1. Response to Direct Threats and Recent Attacks

Israel has repeatedly asserted that Hamas poses an immediate danger to its citizens, particularly following the 7 October 2023 attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis and led to the ongoing Gaza war. The Doha strike reportedly followed a series of killings in Jerusalem attributed to Hamas operatives, escalating tensions and prompting Israel to act pre-emptively.

By targeting senior Hamas figures meeting in Qatar—where the group has maintained a political office since 2012—Israel aimed to disrupt command structures responsible for planning further violence. This mirrors past operations, such as the elimination of Hamas co-founder Ahmed Yassin in 2004, which were framed as necessary to prevent imminent attacks.

Top leaders who may have been killed were Khalil al-Hayya, who replaced Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas’ chief negotiator; Khaled Mashaal, former head of Hamas’ politburo; Zahar Jabarin, who financed the October 7 attack; Musa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the terror group’s politburo; and Muhammed Darwish, who chaired Hamas’ Shura Council. Hamas has not commented on the fate of its leaders. However, according to Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya News, Khalil al-Hayya was killed in the strike.

2. Hamas’s Role as a Designated Terrorist Organisation

Hamas is classified as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and several other nations due to its charter calling for Israel’s destruction and its history of suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and hostage-taking. The leaders in Doha, including figures like Khaled Mashal or Yahya Sinwar’s deputies, have been accused of orchestrating these activities from afar.

Israel’s strike can be seen as an extension of its right to self-defence under international law, specifically Article 51 of the UN Charter, which permits actions against non-state actors threatening a nation’s sovereignty. Qatar’s hosting of Hamas leadership, while ostensibly for mediation purposes, has been criticised by Israel as providing safe haven to those directing terrorism, effectively making Doha a legitimate theatre for counter-terror.

While authorizing the strike on Hamas’s leadership in Qatar, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says Israel will “settle accounts with our enemies” anywhere in the world. “These are the terrorists whose only aspiration was to be the spearhead for the destruction of the State of Israel. We will continue to carry out this mission everywhere, at any range, near and far, in order to settle accounts with our enemies,” he says to the Israeli Air Force pilots who set out to carry out the strike, according to remarks published by the IDF.

3. Disruption of Ceasefire Sabotage and Broader Strategy

The attack occurred amid U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks, with Hamas leaders in Qatar considering proposals. From Israel’s perspective, this timing underscores the justification: Hamas has a pattern of using negotiations as cover to regroup and launch attacks, as evidenced by stalled talks over the past two years. By striking during these discussions, Israel may have sought to pressure remaining leaders into concessions or eliminate hardliners obstructing peace.

Reports indicate the strike was premeditated, using drone technology to minimise collateral damage, though it resulted in at least six deaths, while some key leaders reportedly survived. This approach aligns with Israel’s “mowing the grass” doctrine—periodic operations to degrade militant capabilities—rather than allowing threats to fester.

4. Precedent and Proportionality in Asymmetric Warfare

In asymmetric conflicts, where groups like Hamas embed among civilians and operate from neutral territories, targeted killings have become a tool for states like Israel to avoid full-scale invasions. The Doha operation, conducted via airstrike, was precise and avoided broader escalation in Qatar itself, unlike potential ground operations in Gaza.

Critics, including Qatar and the U.S. have condemned it as a violation of sovereignty, but Israel argues that when host nations fail to curb terrorist activities—as Qatar has been accused of funding Hamas—direct action becomes defensible. Historical precedents, such as the U.S. drone strike on al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan in 2022, support this tactic in international practice.

5. Summary

While the strike has drawn international backlash and risks derailing diplomacy, Israel’s justification rests on eliminating threats to its survival, preventing future attacks, and holding accountable those who perpetuate violence. Please note that diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Hamas have been fruitless, as Hamas has not released all the hostages, which would end the conflict.

The key message is that no matter where you try to hide, terrorists will be brought to account.

Our response must first be prayer:

1. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122)
2. Pray for the hostages and their immediate release
3. Pray for a swift end to the Gaza war

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Image courtesy of Adobe.