'Playing with fire': How Israel’s attack on Hamas in Qatar has likely exploded hopes of ending the Gaza war

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Sep 11, 2025

Amos Harel, a senior security analyst at Haaretz specializing in Israeli military affairs, discusses the recent Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha. He questions the logic behind this decision, suggesting it may stem from political survival rather than concern for hostages. Harel highlights the strained U.S.-Israel relationship, particularly noting Trump's irritation without direct confrontation. He warns of potential retaliation and the fragile position of hostages, emphasizing the intricate dynamics at play amid the ongoing conflict.

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INSIGHT

Political Survival Over Hostage Rescue

Amos Harel argues the Doha strike made little sense if the goal was freeing hostages.
He believes Netanyahu is prioritizing political survival over ending the war.

INSIGHT

Limits Of Leadership Assassinations

Targeted killings can weaken terrorist leaderships but won't end grassroots resistance.
Harel says Hamas's operational control in Gaza limits the effect of killing outside leaders.

INSIGHT

Occupying Gaza Won't Secure Final Victory

Even a successful occupation of Gaza City won't yield a final, stable victory.
Harel warns of guerrilla warfare and long-term control problems over a large civilian population.

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The Israeli decision to bomb Doha, targeting Hamas leadership as they met to consider a cease-fire proposal, made little sense if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is truly concerned with the fate of Israel’s hostages, said Haaretz senior security analyst Amos Harel, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast.

While it may “work against our basic instincts of assuming that the government is looking out for our collective good,” Harel concluded with an air of regret: “That's not the situation we're in. My sense is that Netanyahu gave up on them long ago, and what he's doing right now is about his political survival, nothing else.”

While U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his “unhappiness” with the bold Israeli move to attack the country housing the largest American military base in the region, he has yet to chastise Netanyahu publicly the way he has chastised other foreign leaders, Harel said in his conversation with podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer.

“Unlike his relationships with every other world leader except [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, we haven't seen Trump ever confronting Netanyahu directly, demanding answers or changes in positions,” Harel said. “It is early to tell, but this may be a watershed moment. Trump is losing patience, and he may be close to the edge.”

Harel warned that “if indeed we did kill somebody important in Doha, there could be retaliation. I hope it doesn't get to anybody torturing or killing hostages. In the end, live hostages are an asset to Hamas, but there's a danger there. We're playing with fire.”

Analysis from Amos Harel | Netanyahu Is Taking Ever-greater Risks to Keep the Gaza War Going

Analysis from Amos Harel | With Doha Strike, Israel Signals a Strategic Shift and an Indifference to Consequences

Who Died? Did Trump Know? What About the Hostages? Five Key Questions on Israel's Strike in Doha

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