Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a blunt and direct threat to Qatar and all other countries “that host terrorists, to either expel them or bring them to justice, or else expect direct Israeli action. Netanyahu’s threat was made following recent Israeli air raids on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, that have led to international outcry triggering tensions in the Middle East.
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Netanyahu’s Alert to Qatar and Other Countries
Netanyahu’s message came as the anniversary of the September 11 attacks loomed, comparing intentionally the shocking Islamist terrorist attack against the United States in 2001 to the savage terrorist attack on October 7 perpetrated by Hamas against Israel in 2024. Characterising the October 7 attack as “the worst savagery against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Netanyahu presented Israel’s military retaliation as part of an international struggle against Islamist terrorism.
I say to Qatar and all nations who harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will pic.twitter.com/nlYa7r1OPi
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 10, 2025
He accused Qatar of sheltering and funding Hamas and providing the terror leaders with luxurious safe havens, such as mansions in Doha. Netanyahu maintains that Israel’s attack on top Hamas officials in Qatar was an expression of its determination to enforce the international norm that states have no jurisdiction to harbour terrorists. He referred the U.S. counterterrorism campaign post-9/11, highlighting that just as America hunted down Al-Qaeda leaders worldwide, Israel too will relentlessly hunt Hamas leaders wherever they hide.
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Background on the Attacks and Conflict
The warning came after an unprecedented Israeli attack in Doha that reportedly hit and wounded two top Hamas officials, causing concern and outrage from the Qatari government. Qatar was deeply critical of the attack and labeled it “state terror” and accused Israel of intentionally compromising Qatar’s efforts at mediating a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Qatar maintains that the opening of Hamas offices in Doha was a part of efforts at peace mediation, not terrorism support.
The context to this clash is the ongoing violence since the October 7, 2024 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took people hostage, an incident that was termed one of the deadliest in Israel’s history. Israel has since undertaken repeated and fierce military operations in Gaza as well as against Hamas targets outside, including the March 2025 Gaza bombings that shattered a previous ceasefire and caused many Palestinian casualties.
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Broader Implications
This Qatar ultimatum holds important regional stakes, given that Qatar has been a central agent for mediation and humanitarian relief in Gaza. Netanyahu’s announcement increases the stakes for global diplomacy, putting pressure on countries that have complicated roles within Middle Eastern politics. Israel’s approach marks a slow shift towards a harsher pursuit of Hamas leaders even outside of Palestinian territory, emphasising zero tolerance for any kind of terrorist harbouring.
Netanyahu’s statement is a re-assertion of Israel’s determination to eliminate threats wherever they are, from past global terrorism to current conflicts, and calling on the international community to take a firm position against terrorism by holding hosts responsible for what they do or fail to do.
