Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Qatar as a “hostile state” while insisting that Doha never dictated Israeli policy during the war in Gaza. In an interview with i24NEWS, Netanyahu rejected suggestions that Qatari financial transfers to Gaza had influenced Israeli decision-making, and he defended Israel's September 2025 airstrike on the Qatari capital.
“Qatar is a hostile state, but Qatar is not a state that dictated anything here,” Netanyahu said. He added, referring to the strike: “I attacked Qatar — I also bombed it.”
The attack on Doha targeted senior Hamas officials who were in the city for negotiations over a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Six people were killed, including a member of Qatar's security forces, while Hamas said its negotiating team survived. Qatar condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty. Later that month, Netanyahu apologised to Qatar during a call with US President Donald Trump and the Qatari prime minister, pledging that Israel would not repeat such an action.
Netanyahu's latest remarks came as he defended his government's decision to allow Qatari money into Gaza before the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. He said the funds were intended for humanitarian purposes and had been recommended by Israeli security agencies. Qatar has consistently denied financing Hamas, maintaining that its aid was delivered to Palestinians through mechanisms known to both Israel and the United States. Doha has not yet publicly responded to Netanyahu's latest characterisation.
Qatar and Iran trade accusations over attacks
The comments coincided with a sharp dispute between Qatar and Iran over the nature of Iranian missile and drone strikes on Qatari territory. On Friday, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari accused Tehran of selectively using a Qatari security document to bolster its claim that the attacks had primarily targeted US military facilities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had cited a Qatari security assessment prepared for the International Telecommunication Union, saying it showed that Iranian strikes were directed at US military sites and did not target civilian areas. Baghaei claimed that almost all attacks were aimed at US facilities, with the exception of a strike on gas facilities at Ras Laffan in March, which he alleged had been supporting US military operations against Iran.
Al Ansari rejected that interpretation, saying Iran was quoting the document out of context. “If the Iranian side wishes to reference official documentation, we invite it to refer to the record formally submitted by the State of Qatar to the United Nations,” he said. He pointed to Qatari submissions to the UN that documented Iranian missiles flying over civilian, commercial, and residential areas, and noted that previous attacks had caused damage and injuries.
Al Ansari also dismissed Iran's description of the Ras Laffan attack as “alleged,” saying the strike had been formally documented by Qatar. “The State of Qatar is not a party to this conflict,” he said, adding that attacks on Qatari territory and civilian infrastructure could not be justified as legitimate responses.
Qatar has also sent letters to the UN Secretary-General and the president of the Security Council rejecting Iran's legal justification for the attacks that began on 28 February. Doha maintains that Tehran remains responsible under international law and that Qatar retains the right to defend itself and seek compensation for the damage.
The dispute comes amid broader tensions in the Gulf, where Iran's military actions have drawn international concern. The episode also highlights the delicate position of Qatar, which has sought to mediate in regional conflicts while maintaining ties with both Western powers and Tehran. As the US and EU navigate their own responses to Iran, the Qatari-Iranian clash adds another layer to an already volatile region.
