President Sheikh Mohamed on Wednesday met Sheikh Tamim, Emir of Qatar, in Doha, where they discussed the strong ties between the two countries and the Israeli aggression on Qatari territory that targeted Hamas leaders.
Sheikh Mohamed was received by Sheikh Tamim at Doha International Airport, state news agency Wam reported. Other Gulf leaders and Jordan's King Abdullah II are expected to travel to Doha in a show of support.
During his meeting with Sheikh Tamim, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s resolute solidarity with Qatar and its steadfast support for all measures taken to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of its people, Wam reported.
He stressed that the attack was a breach of Qatar’s sovereignty and of all international laws and norms, warning that such actions threaten the region’s security, stability and prospects for peace. Sheikh Mohamed also praised Sheikh Tamim's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
After leaving Doha, Sheikh Mohamed visited Bahrain, where he was met by King Hamad at Sakhir Airbase.
Sheikh Mohamed and King Hamad condemned Israel's aggression in Qatari territory, noting that it represented a flagrant violation of its sovereignty, a breach of international law, and a threat to regional security.
They also stressed their solidarity with Qatar and their support for everything that would protect its security and the safety of its citizens.
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President Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain before departing Sakhir Air Base. All photos: UAE Presidential Court -
The Bahrain Guard of Honour participate in the departure of Sheikh Mohamed -
Sheikh Mohamed and King Hamad depart after a meeting at Sakhir Palace -
Sheikh Mohamed with King Hamad at Sakhir Palace -
Sheikh Mohamed, centre left, is received by King Hamad -
Sheikh Mohamed with King Hamad -
Sheikh Mohamed and King Hamad with Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister -
Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, second right, Secretary General of the UAE Supreme Council for National Security -
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, right, with a member of the Bahraini delegation at Sakhir Air Base in Manama -
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, left, greets King Hamad on arrival at Sakhir Air Base -
Members of the UAE leadership at Sakhir Air Base
Following Tuesday's strike, the UAE expressed its solidarity with Qatar and its condolences over the death of a member of the country's Internal Security Force in the attack.
Hamas said its top negotiator and senior officials survived the Israeli attempt to assassinate them, but five others were killed. The Qatari security officer died at the scene.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was on Wednesday speaking to Jordan's King Abdullah II about the unprecedented attack on a US-allied Gulf state. Arab governments have condemned the Israeli strike, while US President Donald Trump said he was "not thrilled".
Qatar is seeking a "collective response" to Israel's attack with a summit of Arab and Islamic countries to be held in the coming days, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.
"There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region," he told CNN in an interview.
The European Union tabled plans to scale back support for Israel, while acknowledging its proposals might be "too much for some" of the bloc's 27 members. The sanctions would not affect Israeli civil society or its Holocaust memorial centre.
Sources told The National that Egypt was seeking guarantees from the US that Israel will not stage another attack on Hamas leaders abroad. Egypt and Qatar have been acting as go-betweens in ceasefire talks during the Gaza war, meaning they have played host to Hamas representatives.
Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, a Nato member and close US ally, have in recent days discussed ways to provide protection for Hamas's exiled leaders, the sources said.
“The intention is to safeguard the negotiations at a time when Israel is sending a clear message to everyone that no one in the Arab world can stop it from doing what it pleases,” said one of the sources. “Israel is telling everyone that there's no ceiling to what it could do.”
Israel was unrepentant about the strike, even after senior Hamas leaders were said to have survived. "Israel's security policy is clear – Israel's long hand will act against its enemies everywhere," Defence Minister Israel Katz said. "There is no place for them to hide."
He said that if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages and lay down weapons "they will be destroyed and Gaza will be destroyed".
Israeli troops destroyed another tower block in Gaza city on Wednesday as part of their campaign to seize the area. They said Hamas was using the Harmony Tower to spy on soldiers and plot attacks, a claim it has made about more than 50 high-rise buildings that were razed in recent days.
At least 34 Palestinians, including 26 in Gaza city, were killed in Israeli attacks across the strip on Wednesday, official news agency Wafa said. It said some Israeli strikes hit the tents of displaced people in western Gaza city.
“Israel’s attempt to assassinate the negotiating delegation in the heart of Qatar’s capital is a message that it no longer wants negotiations,” said Munther Abu Shumala, a 28-year-old sociology graduate in Gaza.
"It has decided to continue the war and slaughter in the Gaza strip without restraint, even as Hamas was studying Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire," he told The National.
Fuad Ghanem, 41, had clung to hope that a ceasefire would prevent him from having to leave Gaza city. But “Israel’s operation in Qatar immediately made me decide to evacuate to the south to save my family,” he said.
“This operation shows Israel’s intention to leave no room for calm or solutions. It will continue its war of extermination until Gaza’s last breath."
Initial reports in Israeli media suggested officials were optimistic that key targets had been killed. From Wednesday morning, however, reports changed with an increasing number suggesting that the mission had failed, as Hamas claimed.
Israel targets Hamas leadership in attack on Doha – in pictures
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A damaged building following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders, in Doha, Qatar. Reuters -
Smoke rises after several blasts were heard in Doha. Reuters -
Israel says it carried out a 'precise strike' on a site where Hamas negotiators have been discussing Gaza ceasefire proposals. Reuters -
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a "wholly independent Israeli operation". AFP -
The Israeli army said it used 'precise munitions' to mitigate harm to civilians in Doha. Reuters -
Majid Al Ansari, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the 'cowardly Israeli attack' had targeted residential buildings 'housing several members of the political bureau of Hamas' in Doha. Reuters
Israel's air force attacked Doha on Tuesday afternoon, causing several explosions. Hamas said the attack killed five people – the son of senior leader Khalil Al Hayya, the director of his office, and three others – but failed to take out its top leadership. Qatar said a sixth person, a member of its security forces, was killed "while performing his duties" at the site of the attack, and others injured.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed described Israel’s strike on Doha as “state terrorism”. He said US officials first informed Qatar of the strike 10 minutes after it began.
“Qatar reserves the right to respond to this blatant attack and will take all necessary measures to respond,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He added that a legal team has been formed to handle the Gulf country's response.
“There is a rogue actor practising continuing political chaos in this region and violating the sovereignty of states there,” he said.
Despite his strong criticism, he said Qatar’s mediation efforts to end the Gaza war would continue. Mediation work is part of the Qatari identity and nothing would deter the nation’s role in that regard, he said.
Hamas accepted a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire last month. But Israel failed to respond, instead launching a new offensive to seize Gaza city. It has also increased its operations in the occupied West Bank, promising to go after "nests of terror".
Israel has assassinated several senior Hamas figures during the war in Gaza. The group’s leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a missile strike in Tehran in August 2024. His successor Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in Gaza a few months later.
