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On September 9, 2025, Israel conducted an airstrike against a facility containing Hamas negotiators in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Qatar is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States and houses the Al-Udeid Air Base, a key U.S. military base. Furthermore, Qatar and the United States have a history of economic partnership, with the United States being the biggest investor in the Qatari economy. Qatar has also partnered with the United States in mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. Nonetheless, Israel did not warn Qatar of this strike. Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, described the strike as “state terrorism.” The strikes did not achieve Israel’s goal of assassinating all Hamas targets and have been met with international condemnation, as this is another flagrant violation of international law. Western diplomats have become increasingly fearful and uncertain about Israel's commitment to international law.
Israel did not face consequences from its greatest ally, the United States, for this violation. Of the strikes in Qatar, President Trump remarked on Truth Social that “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.” Despite this rationale, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leither, persisted in a Fox News interview that “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them next time.” One day after bombing Qatar, Israel struck the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. As Israel bombs Yemen, killing 9 people and injuring 118, the EU (European Union) chief aims to implement sanctions and partially suspend trade with Israel over their violent treatment of Gazans.
While the attacks on Qatar were shocking, this was not the first instance in which Israel unnecessarily threatened international diplomacy. On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a preemptive missile strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing many top military commanders as well as civilians in Tehran. Israel has justified this attack by insisting that Iran has nuclear weapons intended for Israel's destruction. No proof of this claim had been provided to the public by Israel or the United States. UN diplomats asserted that “These attacks represent a flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, a blatant act of aggression, and a violation of jus cogens norms—peremptory rules of international law from which no derogation is permitted.” They continue to cite that Article 2(4) “prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, including through any purported claim of preventive self-defense against alleged nuclear proliferation or terrorism.”
With these new attacks on Qatar, Israel’s continuous and unapologetic violations of international law may have finally reached a breaking point with the United States and other Western allies. It appears Israel’s prerogatives of releasing the hostages and negotiating peace talks seem to have been forgotten, and that they will continue to strike Hamas targets no matter the legality. It is uncertain what exact consequences Israel will face for their actions and whether it will accept them or continue wreaking havoc across the Middle East. Israel is a rogue state and should be treated accordingly by the international community.