Israeli officials say ‘doubtful if airstrike in Doha against Hamas leadership was successful’

Doha airstrike did not achieve desired result

On Wednesday, Israeli media, quoting unnamed military officials, reported that the optimism about Hamas leaders being killed in the airstrike was fading.

According to Kan, Israel informed the United States that the chances that the strike had been successful had decreased significantly.

The state broadcaster quoted an official as saying that the final results needed to be seen but that it was possible the strike had not achieved “the desired result.”

“Right now there’s no indication that the terrorists were killed,” an anonymous source told Channel 12 news. “We continue to hope they were assassinated, but optimism is fading.”

Smoke rises from an explosion, allegedly caused by an Israeli strike, in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (UGC via AP)

Similar sentiments were echoed by defense and intelligence officials, who spoke to Ynet. They were “pessimistic regarding the lethality of the strike on most of the targets, and perhaps all of them.”

‘Will get them next time’

Despite the setback, the Israeli ambassador to the United States put up a brave face while he appeared on told Fox News, saying his country would succeed next time.

“Right now, we may be subject to a little bit of criticism. They’ll get over it. And Israel is being changed for the better. If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them the next time,” Leiter said.

Trump distances US from airstrike

The failure of the airstrike to eliminate the Hamas leadership is a setback to Benjamin Netanyahu, who is now under additional international pressure after hitting a key US ally in the Middle East. While the US has not publicly denounced the Israeli actions, on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump assured Qatari leadership that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”

Later, Trump also posted on social media, distancing the US from the airstrike.

“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,” Trump wrote on social media.

“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” the US President said, adding that the strike “was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me.”

EU seeks sanctions against Israel

The airstrike in Doha is adding to the growing international isolation of Israel in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she will seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.