Israel attacks Hamas in Qatar: what comes next?
The Israeli military launched airstrikes against buildings in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday, killing several people. According to its own statements it was targeting the leadership of radical Islamist group Hamas, which bears direct responsibility for the massacre on 7 October 2023. The Qatari Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a 'flagrant violation' of international law. Europe's press takes stock.
Torpedoing the peace negotiations
La Stampa looks at Qatar's role:
“Qatar, which has the largest American base in the Middle East just a few kilometres from Doha, a Turkish reinforcement contingent, a huge gas field it shares with Iran, the most soft power in the Arab world, TV channel Al-Jazeera, an inexhaustible source of money to buy football teams and approval across the globe and is one of the richest countries in the world, sat quietly and calmly in a tower of ivory and steel in the middle of the Gulf. ... Now Qatar has become a new battleground in a never-ending proxy war: the scene of a direct attack on the mediators and the peace negotiations themselves.”
Contradicting words with deeds
In bombing Qatar, Israel has torpedoed all the peace negotiations that had been conducted in the region so far, De Standaard writes:
“The Israeli government has completely exposed the emirate: the bombs on Doha seem like a declaration of war. ... Qatar received support from the other Gulf states with which Israel had established relations in 2020 through the 'Abraham Accords'. ... Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likes to stress how he wants to extend these agreements to other Arab countries. But with his ruthless politics he is putting the whole concept at risk.”
Running out of mediators
Israel seems to have even given up on its goal of normalising relations with Arab states, writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung:
“Tuesday's attack has also awakened fears among Qatar's neighbours that the conflict could spread to their countries, that they are Israel's next targets. Their economy is based on the certainty that they are a safe haven in an insecure region. That could now be over. Qatar has announced that it is suspending its mediation efforts in Gaza for the time being. Egypt, the other mediator, has repeatedly threatened Netanyahu in recent days. Soon there may be no one left to mediate. And no one in Hamas who could still agree to the proposals. That seems to be Netanyahu's real goal.”
No one can stop the Israeli PM
Israel is intent on pursuing its goals to the bitter end, Jutarnji list comments:
“If there is one lesson to be learned from this latest surprise attack by Israel in the Middle East, it's the realisation that Benjamin Netanyahu will stop at nothing. ... The government in Tel Aviv will not rest until it has eliminated the last member of the organisation that on 7 October 2023 committed the largest massacre of Jews since the Second World War. It will not be deterred by the fact that a growing number of countries and political organisations are shocked by its brutality towards civilians in Gaza, nor by the pressure from Donald Trump and his administration to end the war after two years of bloodshed.”
Tel Aviv fully committed to deterrence
The attack signals the beginning of a new era, says The Daily Telegraph:
“If we cannot be loved, then we must be feared. That is the message of the ten Israeli bombs dropped today at the centre of Qatar's power. For those determined to kill Jews, no place in the world is safe. ... This spectacular military operation heralds a new era in two respects. Firstly, it shows that Israel is now fully committed to deterrence, regardless of what the West thinks. When the jihadists come knocking at their door, perhaps the Europeans will also come to their senses. Secondly, the military operation demonstrates a new self-confidence in terms of power.”
Qatar a luxury refuge for terrorists
In a Facebook post, Israeli-based journalist Dmitri Chernyshev describes Qatar as a luxury stronghold for Hamas:
“Qatar has granted asylum to murderers and terrorists. ... After Hamas was driven out of Jordan and then Syria, it was Qatar that offered political asylum to its entire senior leadership. For years the terrorists have lived there in posh hotels and villas. Not to mention all the support offered to antisemites at universities around the world. ... Let's not forget that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain imposed a blockade on Qatar in 2017 precisely because of its support for terrorists.”