Author: Gulf News Week

Israel’s strike in Qatar raises global concerns but fails to prompt substantial policy shifts from its allies.World leaders were quick to criticise Israel for its attack in Qatar on Tuesday, targeting Hamas political leaders discussing a ceasefire in Gaza.United States President Donald Trump, typically one of Israel’s most vocal supporters, said he was “very unhappy about every aspect” of the strike. Germany, long a consistent backer of Israel, declared the attack “unacceptable” and a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. And India, which, under its nationalist leader Narendra Modi, has largely supported Israel, warned of “escalation” and said it was “deeply concerned”.Recommended…

Qatar ‘strongly condemns’ Netanyahu’s comments, calling them a ‘shameful attempt … to justify the cowardly attack’ in Doha.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to try to kill Hamas leaders in Qatar again if Doha does not expel the group’s officials, drawing a sharp response from Doha.Unfazed by international outrage over the attack in the Qatari capital, Netanyahu said on Wednesday that countries should “applaud” Israel for its bombing and killing spree across the Middle East.“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice — because if you don’t,…

Israel’s attack has not only called into question how Qatar might respond, but the future of its well-established mediator role, as well as its defence alliances.Doha, Qatar – The sight of plumes of smoke in the aftermath of Israeli bombings have become commonplace across the Middle East in recent months – but in the skyline of Qatar’s glitzy capital, it was wholly unprecedented.Israel’s attack on Doha on Tuesday – the sixth country it has attacked this year – appeared to target the Palestinian group Hamas’s negotiating team, who were speculated at the time to be on the brink of closing…

The country previously said it would recognise Palestinian statehood this month.Canada is evaluating its relationship with Israel after the attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, its foreign minister has said, in the latest sign of unhappiness with the Israeli government.Anita Anand on Wednesday said the country considered the attack in Doha to be unacceptable, especially given Qatari attempts to facilitate peace in the Middle East.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Recognising Palestine: Why now, and what does it mean? | Start Herelist 2 of 3After Qatar attack, Israel ambassador to US says ‘we’ll get them next time’list 3…

In just three days, Israel has carried out strikes in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and Yemen.On Tuesday, Israel launched a targeted air strike on a Hamas leadership compound in Qatar’s capital, Doha, during a meeting to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire for Gaza.The strike killed six people, including the son of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, the director of al-Hayya’s office, three bodyguards and a Qatari security officer. However, its top leaders are reported to have survived the attack.The attack was part of a wider wave of Israeli strikes extending beyond its immediate borders, and marked the sixth country attacked…

Details have begun to emerge about Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, although many questions remain.On Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli military targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, drawing near universal condemnation and, according to analysts, crossing all previous red lines.The attack reportedly targeted Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s exiled Gaza leader and main negotiator, who has risen up the ranks after Israel assassinated Yahya Sinwar in Gaza and Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last year. Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political office since 2012 at the request of the United States, according to Qatari officials.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel…

More than 400 extra Civil Guards will attend final two stages of grand tour after previous pro-Palestine protests.An “extraordinary” security boost will accompany the final two stages of the Vuelta in the Madrid region, Spanish authorities said, as pro-Palestinian protests rock one of cycling’s grand tours.The demonstrations, which have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over the devastating war in Gaza, have affected several stages of the 21-day race and cast doubt on organisers’ ability to see it through to its completion.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Morocco, Tunisia are in but who else has qualified for the FIFA…

Israeli diplomat Yechiel Leiter says countries criticising Israel over launching air strikes on Doha will ‘get over it’.Washington, DC – Hours after United States President Donald Trump promised that Israel would not attack Qatar again, the Israeli ambassador to the US suggested that his country could repeat its attempt to kill Hamas officials within the Gulf country.Speaking to Fox News late on Tuesday, Yechiel Leiter said if Hamas leaders had survived the Doha bombardment, Israel would target them again.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel kills over 50 in Gaza; Qatar calls Israeli attack ‘state terror’list 2 of 3UK…

A number of sites were targeted, including medical and fuel storage facilities, and the Houthis say they used missiles against the Israeli incursion.At least 35 people have been killed after Israel carried out air strikes in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and al-Jawf governorate, a day after targeting Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, Doha.Yemen’s Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that 131 people were wounded in Israeli aggression on Sanaa and al-Jawf. It described the figures as a preliminary toll, warning the number could rise as rescue teams continue to search for victims.The ministry said the raids struck civilian and…

The Syrian government has blamed Israel for a series of attacks around the country.The attacks early on Tuesday targeted sites in and around the city of Homs in western Syria and the coastal city of Latakia.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Syria condemns attacks by Israeli warplanes on cities of Homs and Latakialist 2 of 3Analysis: Israel leaps over red lines in attack on Qatari capital Dohalist 3 of 3Why does Qatar host Hamas’s political office?end of listThe Syrian government called the attacks “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic”, according to Syria’s Ministry…