Netanyahu calls Qatar hostile after defending 2025 strike on Doha

Tel Aviv – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a 2025 airstrike on Doha, describing the operation as a necessary response to hostile actions and labeling Qatar a “hostile state.” In a televised address, Netanyahu said the strike targeted facilities linked to groups he accused of planning attacks against Israel and asserted that the decision was taken after “extensive intelligence review.” He declined to disclose casualty figures but emphasized that the operation was intended to deter further threats emanating from the Gulf nation.

Doha, for its part, rejected the Israeli justification and turned its criticism toward Tehran, accusing Iran of cherry‑picking a Qatari security assessment to legitimize recent attacks on Qatari territory. Qatar’s foreign ministry said the assessment, which outlined regional security challenges, was being misrepresented by Iran to rationalize its own military actions. The dual accusations have heightened diplomatic strains in the region, with both Israel and Qatar warning that the escalating rhetoric could further destabilize already fragile relations.