President Donald Trump offered rare public criticism of the U.S. ally after the strike in Doha, which threatened to imperil efforts to secure a ceasefire and free hostages held in Gaza.

In a stunning development, Israel launched a surprise air raid targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital Doha Tuesday, killing six people including the son of the group's lead negotiator in ceasefire talks.

The tiny, wealthy Gulf Arab state of Qatar has long hosted the biggest American military base in the Middle East.

Qatar is the sixth country Israel has attacked since the Hamas massacre on 7 October 2023, when around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage. The terror attack prompted a major onslaught on Gaza in which Israel has killed around 65,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and destroyed large parts of the strip.

After Israel attacked senior Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, oil prices climbed — but not as much as some traders might have expected from a significant flare-up in Middle East violence.

The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike" against Hamas senior leadership on Tuesday.