ON SEPT. 9, Israeli forces launched an airstrike at a residential building housing Hamas political leaders and ceasefire negotiators in Qatar’s capital Doha. Six members of the Palestinian militant group were killed, but the leaders and negotiators survived.
The group’s negotiating team was discussing there a new truce deal proposed recently by United States President Donald Trump when the attack happened.
Qatar, a significant US ally and host to a huge American military base, has long positioned itself as an honest broker in negotiating for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani denounced the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and an act of Israeli “state terrorism.”
“Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to respond,” he said.
The Gulf state has channeled millions of dollars to Hamas in Gaza in previous years with the knowledge and clearance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This was criticized by the Israeli military, warning that Hamas was using it to train and rearm its fighters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had allowed this money transfer to prevent Gaza from falling into economic ruin and chaos. He explained that this was part of a “containment and control” policy to bribe Hamas leaders into not harassing Israeli settlers and armed soldiers; and to let the group keep control of Gaza as it weakened the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The policy was one of divide and conquer. With Palestinians divided, the long-proposed two-state solution — in which Israel and Palestine would both be recognized as independent countries — would never be realized. That containment earned Netanyahu positive political points.
Israeli intelligence did not anticipate Hamas’ attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left more than 1,200 Israelis — including 379 Israeli troops — dead, resulted in 251 others being taken hostage, and triggered the war in Gaza. Twenty of these captives are believed to be still alive there. Netanyahu — who is facing corruption charges and plans to keep himself in power as long as possible — must still be held accountable.
Green light
On the claims that United States President Donald Trump gave Israel the green light to strike Hamas leaders in Doha, Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft said: “What is the value of an American security umbrella [for Qatar] and hosting a US base on your soil if the United States itself conspires to attack you?”
It is inconceivable that Israel would attack Qatar without Trump’s clearance, since the US military base in that country would have to be informed in advance of such an attack. But Trump has denied giving permission and has distanced himself from the strike.
Matt Duss, a foreign policy adviser to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, said: “This is an attack in the capital of a major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) US ally in the midst of US-supported negotiations — against officials who were originally hosted there at the United States’ request.”
“It’s an attack on diplomacy itself, making clear that Netanyahu intends to see Israel’s accelerating campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza through to the end. If it was conducted with the approval of the US, it’s the latest nail in the coffin of Trump’s claim to be a ‘peacemaker,’” he added. (To be continued)/PN
