why did israel bomb qatar

Israel bombed Qatar because it targeted a Hamas delegation that was meeting in Doha, Qatar's capital. The strike was part of Israel's ongoing military operations against Hamas following Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel claimed it was retaliating for a recent shooting in Jerusalem and aimed to eliminate Hamas leadership involved in ceasefire negotiations with Israel and the US. The attack was unprecedented as Qatar is a US ally, a mediator in peace talks, and hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East. The bombing killed several Hamas members, including the son of a senior Hamas leader, as well as a member of Qatar’s internal security. Israel took full responsibility for the strike, which it said was planned to disrupt Hamas operations and negotiations it opposed. Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty and international law, and the strike threatened ongoing ceasefire talks. The attack was unusual because it targeted Hamas leaders away from Gaza, in a country that traditionally acted as a neutral mediator in the conflict.