The media is still buzzing over Israel's precision strike against Hamas headquarters in Doha, Qatar. Many public figures and world leaders condemned the attack, claiming it violated Qatar's sovereignty and risked further escalation in the region. While the identities of those eliminated remain undisclosed, Israel confirmed it targeted senior Hamas leaders responsible for planning the October 7 massacre and directing the ongoing war against Israel.
Since the strike, Qatar has announced it is suspending its mediation efforts in the hostage negotiations indefinitely. But the question remains: why is Qatar even in a position to mediate? And more importantly, why is this tiny Gulf nation still treated as a neutral or benign actor, despite decades of behavior that has directly harmed Israel and Western interests?
For a country with a population smaller than many major cities, Qatar has assumed an outsized role on the world stage. Most of the public recognizes that Qatar often acts in bad faith, claiming to mediate while simultaneously supporting the very groups it is supposed to contain. Yet few truly understand the depth and scope of Qatar's global influence. With one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world and a sovereign wealth fund managing over $500 billion in assets, Qatar wields extraordinary financial and political power. It has used this power to insert itself into both legitimate and illegitimate spheres, shaping policies, media narratives, and even the politics of other countries
Over the years, Qatar has consistently bought influence around the world. While Iran is known as the top state sponsor of terrorism, Qatar has emerged as the number one financier of political Islam globally. It funds the Muslim Brotherhood, the Taliban, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, and, most prominently, Hamas. In 2009, Emir Hamad became the first head of state to visit Gaza after Hamas forcibly seized power, pledging $200 million annually to support Hamas's vision of an Islamic state in Gaza. That act was not symbolic; it was a clear signal that Qatar was willing to use its wealth to empower a terrorist organization that has repeatedly targeted Israeli civilians.
The regime in Doha has maintained this support for over a decade. Senior Hamas leaders live in Doha, fundraising in luxurious hotels, attending lavish events, and enjoying a life of privilege, while Palestinians in Gaza endure hardship under Hamas rule. These are not isolated acts but are part of a systematic strategy to legitimize and strengthen an organization whose charter openly calls for the destruction of Israel. By providing a safe haven and financial resources to Hamas, Qatar is directly contributing to the planning and execution of terrorist operations against Israel.
Qatar's influence is not limited to direct support for terrorism. The country has been implicated in bribery and political manipulation around the world. Allegations include bribing members of the European Parliament, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, and even two of Prime Minister Netanyahu's staffers to present it in favorable light during the hostage negotiations. Prior to the October 7 massacre, Qatar cooperated with Israel in an effort to stabilize Hamas, a tactic that failed spectacularly and clearly did not serve Israeli security. These incidents reveal a consistent pattern of Qatar using its wealth and diplomatic influence to manipulate governments, institutions, and public opinion in order to advance its interests and protect the terrorist organizations it supports.
Beyond its role in the Middle East, Qatar has mastered the use of soft power globally. In the United States alone, it has invested over $100 billion in universities, banks, media outlets, think tanks, corporations, and political figures. CENTCOM, the U.S. Central Command responsible for counterterrorism, regional stability, and naval security, operates from Qatar, hosting over 100,000 U.S. troops. These relationships give Qatar a veneer of legitimacy and strategic importance. Yet behind the scenes, the country continues to fund and enable operations that harm both U.S. and Israeli security.
Having Qatar mediate hostage negotiations was a mistake from the start. Despite claiming to be "disinterested," Qatar spent $30 million a month to sustain Hamas (something that Israel allowed in hopes that it would bring stability). And now, the recent "Qatargate" scandal suggests possible meddling in Israeli politics and media.
Qatar's state media outlet, Al Jazeera, has amplified these threats through propaganda and arguably harmed Israel in ways that Hamas could only dream of. The network's coverage of the Gaza war has shaped the narrative across the Arab world, demonizing and flat-out lying about Israel. Al Jazeera staff in Doha were directly involved in producing the hostage parade ceremonies orchestrated by Hamas. This is not simple reporting but a strategic method of dehumanizing Jews and legitimizing violence against hostages to the entire Arab world.
Qatar's actions have been a persistent and strategic threat to Israel and Western interests. Even though the regime has placed itself in the perfect position to leverage both sides, the fact that Israel has not categorized it as a hostile state was a huge mistake, and we paid the price on October 7.
Western governments have treated Qatar as a neutral partner for far too long. Its wealth, diplomacy, and strategic positioning have allowed it to cultivate a relationship with the United States and other global powers while simultaneously pursuing operations that destabilize the region and harm Western interests.
It is time to recognize Qatar for what it truly is: a hostile state. Its funding of terrorism, harboring of terrorists, manipulation of Western institutions, and use of soft power to shield malign operations are a threat and Israel and the West cannot continue to turn a blind eye to it. For the safety of Israelis and the stability of the Middle East, Qatar must be treated as the adversary it has become.
