Bibi Launches Attack on Hamas and Diplomacy: Israeli Strike in Doha Undermines Peace Efforts
Sept. 11—The Butcher of Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, under pressure from President Donald Trump to end his drive for further slaughter in Gaza and to accept a new plan from Trump to end the war and free the hostages, yesterday ordered Israeli stealth fighters to attack Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar as they met to discuss the new Trump proposal.
The attack reportedly failed to kill the targeted top Hamas leaders and negotiators, but did kill several others, including the son of top negotiator Kahil al-Hayya. The operation, sources close to the White House report, was run without American approval or assistance and had been in planning for weeks. The U.S. had indications that an attack on Hamas leaders by Israel was imminent and had instead asked Bibi to allow the new Trump plan—presented to Hamas over the course of the last week through intermediaries—a chance to work. With Qatar at the center of the diplomatic efforts, the Israelis were told, and have been told in the past, that any attack on Hamas in Doha would potentially cripple Trump's efforts to end the war.
White House Responds to Israeli Action
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement to reporters, expressing regret that Hamas leaders were in Qatar when they were targeted by Israel:
“This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which very unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. President Trump immediately directed special envoy Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did. The President views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States and feels very badly about the location of this attack.
“President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released, and this war to end now. President Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told President Trump that he wants to make peace, and quickly.
“President Trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.
“The President also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country. He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
Qatar denied that they were given advance warning, saying they were told after the attack had already begun. Meanwhile, there are reports that Trump intends to sign a defense treaty with Qatar, which would have the U.S. defend it if it comes under attack.
Netanyahu Claims Independence While Trump Pushes Ceasefire
Netanyahu spoke at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Sept. 9 following the attack, claiming Israel “acted wholly independently” and asserting the war could end if Palestinians accept Trump’s ceasefire “proposal,” which he said Israel supports, even though there has been no discussion of the plan in the Security Cabinet.
"The fact is, no matter what he says, Netanyahu wants the war to continue until Hamas is annihilated," said a source. "He wants to go into Gaza City, guns blazing, killing Hamas and thousands of other Gazans. Trump does not want this, but has yet to tell Bibi it is over. Trump and [Special Envoy] Steve Witkoff think they have hit on a plan that will release all the hostages at once and end the war. They thought that Hamas would agree to this, despite knowing that Bibi does not agree. But if Hamas would agree, then Trump believes he could use his leverage in Israel against Bibi to force an end to the war. Especially if he brings all the hostages, living and dead, home at once. Whether you agree or not, that's Trump's sequencing: Hamas agrees to his plan, which means they relinquish political control of Gaza forever, with a ceasefire in place, then he forces Bibi to end the war. The IDF withdraws to agreed areas, the killing stops, and America makes sure that huge amounts of aid prevent further deaths, including by starvation.
Diplomatic Fallout and Hamas Reaction
"This requires diplomacy, but it has to be founded on faith that war will not be used to settle things," the source said. "There is no way that Trump conspired with Bibi to get Hamas in one place so they could be struck. But that is what it might look like, and this will be used by the faction of Hamas that wants no deal. Bibi knows this, which is why he took the chance. He also knows that Trump needs Qatar to help Witkoff bring the deal to realization. And it looks like Trump did not protect them from what is a humiliating attack by Israel, even if it did not really hit anything in Doha except Hamas.
Trump and Steve have a lot of pulling to keep Qatar in this game."
Doha has formed a legal team to initiate legal proceedings against what they called a “rogue act.” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, issued a statement today condemning the attack, saying Qatar “will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or security, stressing that the blatant Israeli attack targeting Hamas political bureau leaders during negotiations in Doha amounts to state terrorism” and said the attack “not only violated international law but also ethical and humanitarian standards, particularly as Qatar was officially hosting negotiations with US involvement and Israeli awareness.”
Arab States Rally Around Qatar
Meanwhile, other Arab states are rallying to support Qatar. The leader of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, traveled to Qatar today in a show of support. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to visit Sept. 11.
But this should also tell you that Netanyahu does not care about diplomacy. He has said that only force, sometimes savagely administered, can settle Israel's issues with the Palestinians. He does not care that his targets were in effect not just Hamas leaders, but also serving as diplomats. "There is some truth to the Israeli contention that these people in Doha were living the 'fat cat's' life while their people were starving and dying in Gaza," said the source. "They lived well, almost like pashas. Not all of them, but many of them. And they were supposedly out of harm's way, beyond Bibi's long arm of wrath. Not any more. That's what [IDF chief Lt. Gen. Eyal] Zamir said over the weekend: No matter where they are, Israel will take out those leaders of Hamas responsible for Oct. 7."
Trump’s Urgency and the Stakes Ahead
So, what's next? Trump has sent a message to Hamas, through backchannels and the mediators, that they should accept his plan immediately without quibbling over details that can be resolved in future talks. "He believes that the attack may make them realize that their only protection comes with agreeing to the diplomatic solution that he can enforce. So, he wants to use what happened to push the deal. The Israelis said we missed this time, but we won't miss again. Trump needs to make it clear that he did not support or greenlight what happened, but that he needs to push through a deal, if Bibi is to be controlled."
"The next 48 hours will be crucial in this process," the source concluded. "Forget about the Hamas 'fat cats' in Doha. Trump needs a deal in place to stop Bibi's slaughter of tens of thousands of innocents in Gaza City. That is what should be paramount to Hamas, whose stupidity in going for the massacre of Oct. 7 [2023] gave Bibi his excuse to launch the genocide that has killed likely 100,000 innocents, so many women and children. If Hamas quibbles now about the Trump plan, if they chirp that Hamas will never surrender, it will cost tens of thousands more lives. The Trump plan traps and cages Bibi, and ultimately gets him and his messianic lunatics like [Finance Minister Belazel] Snotrich and [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir out of there. It is the best hope for the Palestinians. The best hope for Israel. And for all people who want the killing to stop. There really is nothing else on the table."