Israeli Airstrike in Doha Targets Hamas Leaders, Escalating Regional Tensions

"...Now, those same leaders are united in anger after Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha...."

"...The strike has triggered the worst fears of leaders in the oil-rich Gulf: that the U.S. might abandon its decades-old commitment to protect them from regional aggressors in the mold of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein or – it now seems – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...."

"...Those fears could undermine Trump’s priorities in the region, from ending the war in Gaza and expanding his signature Abraham Accords — which forged ties between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco — to countering Chinese and Russian influence...."

"...Netanyahu’s dream of new normalization deals across the Gulf seems further than ever...."

"...But his ironclad support for an Israeli government that has increasingly flouted international norms in the wars unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack is a source of concern in the Gulf...."

"...He also questioned the future of Qatar’s mediation efforts, saying there was nothing “valid” about the current talks after the strike...."

"...Netanyahu has meanwhile threatened to strike again if Qatar keeps hosting Hamas in its role as a regional mediator – which it has done for years with the full knowledge and support of the U.S...."

"...Those comments were denounced Thursday by the UAE’s foreign ministry...."

"...The Israel-UAE agreement has held through two years of regional wars but could be in danger if Israel stays on its current trajectory...."

"...Last week, the UAE warned Israel that any move to annex the occupied West Bank would be a “red line,” without specifying what action it might take...."

"...Now Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners are pressing for it after presiding over a dramatic expansion of Jewish settlements...."

"...Trump, in his first term, lent unprecedented support to Israel’s claims to territory seized in war...."

"...It’s unclear if he will apply the brakes this time around...."

"...Both Trump and Netanyahu hope to reach a similar normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, a regional powerhouse and custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites...."

"...The Biden administration seemed to be on the verge of brokering such a deal on the eve of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack...."

"...Since then, it has appeared increasingly unlikely...."

"...The Saudi crown prince has stuck by his demands and ramped up his rhetoric, accusing Israel of “genocide” at one point last year...."

"...Prince Mohammed has also pursued warmer ties with Iran, Israel’s main nemesis, which Saudi Arabia itself had long viewed as a regional menace...."

"...All three Gulf nations still have powerful incentives to stick with the grand bargain struck with the United States after the 1991 Gulf War – when they agreed to host American bases and help stabilize energy markets in exchange for military protection...."

"...That’s been strained in Qatar after a June attack by Iran targeting a military base hosting U.S. troops...."

"...But Israel’s strike is widely seen as an even greater violation of those understandings...."

"...That could make future deals harder to close...."