New York Times: How Israel’s Attack on Qatar Forced Netanyahu to Shift Gaza Stance

On September 9, the Israeli air force struck a residential neighborhood in Doha, capital of Qatar, where several Hamas representatives were engaged in talks to resolve the Gaza conflict. The operation, ordered by Benjamin Netanyahu and carried out without warning to Washington, failed to achieve its main objectives but killed a Qatari guard and the son of a Hamas official. According to the New York Times, this attack was a major provocation—”negotiating through bombing negotiators.” Qatar, a key mediator since the start of the war in Gaza, immediately withdrew from the process and accused Israel of attempting to sabotage any prospect of peace. Egypt, Turkey, and other Arab countries reacted with anger toward Israel and Netanyahu. Even the White House was caught off guard: Donald Trump and his aides learned about the strike in real time. American outrage and diplomatic reversal Until then, Trump had given Netanyahu wide latitude in conducting the war against Hamas. However, the Doha incident changed the situation. The fury of Arab partners, combined with the risk of further diplomatic isolation for Israel, pushed Washington to act. The U.S. president and his adviser Steve Witkoff intensified contacts with regional mediators and held Netanyahu accountable. Twenty days later, on September 29, Trump and Netanyahu appeared side by side at the White House. Trump, true to his grandiosity, called it “a great, very great day, perhaps one of the most beautiful in the history of civilization.” Netanyahu, more cautious, assured that the plan achieved Israel’s wartime goals. A divided yet ready-to-move Hamas At the same time, Hamas announced it accepted key elements of the U.S. proposal, including releasing all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, alive or dead. However, the group’s statement remained ambiguous on disarmament—a red line for Israel. The New York Times highlights that this ambiguity reflects internal divisions within Hamas: its external political leadership, more open to compromise, and its military wing in Gaza, which refuses to surrender arms. Netanyahu seeks to reshape the deal The days preceding the official announcement were marked by intense negotiations. Netanyahu spent hours renegotiating the text, demanding removal of any reference to a future Palestinian state and securing language allowing Israel broad military leeway. Washington conceded on several points but retained a vague reference to an “credible path toward Palestinian self-determination.”