Qatar PM calls Israeli strike in Doha ‘state terrorism’, says ‘we were betrayed’

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned Israel’s strike on Doha, where Hamas representatives were present, calling it an act of “state terrorism.”

“I have no words to express our rage over such actions… this is state terrorism,” he told CNN. “We were betrayed.”

Al Thani said Israel and the United States were fully aware of his meetings with Hamas leadership as part of mediation efforts. “We are not hiding anything,” he said, adding there was no basis to describe the contacts as “harboring terrorists.”

The Qatari premier argued that the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “killed the hope” for releasing hostages in Gaza. He stopped short of confirming whether Hamas’s chief negotiator was killed in the strike, saying: “There has been no official statement.”

He warned that Middle Eastern states were considering retaliatory measures against Israel and called for Netanyahu to face trial at the International Criminal Court.

Israel struck Doha on Sept. 9, saying its target was Hamas officials involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Qatar confirmed the building hit was used by Hamas politburo members. The Gulf state has been a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations.