Israeli President Isaac Herzog has defended Israel’s controversial airstrike in Doha, Qatar, which targeted senior Hamas leaders, saying that at times it is necessary to “remove” individuals who block diplomatic progress.
Herzog made the comments following what he described as a “frank” and “tough” meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, where the two leaders reportedly discussed escalating tensions in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the growing push for Palestinian statehood.
“We believe that a unilateral resolution regarding a Palestinian state will be adverse and negatively affect any future process, because it will be dangerous,” Herzog said, warning such moves could be misinterpreted by Hamas and further destabilize the region.
The Israeli airstrike in Doha has drawn condemnation from Qatar’s government, which has accused Israel of violating international law by carrying out an attack within its capital city.
Qatar has vowed to hold Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable on the international stage. However, Netanyahu defended the operation, insisting Israel was “fully justified” in targeting Hamas leaders believed to have orchestrated the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.
According to Hamas, six people were killed in the strike, but the group denies that any of its top commanders were among the dead. Israel has not confirmed the identities of those killed.
In a separate development, the Israeli military also confirmed a series of airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure.” Local sources report at least nine fatalities, raising fears of a broader regional escalation involving Iran-backed militias.
