
Netanyahu Tells Qatar To Expel Hamas Chiefs Or Bring Them To Justice: “If You Don’t, We Will”
In a video message on September 10, the prime minister defended Israel’s Doha strike and demanded that Qatar either remove Hamas’s senior leadership from its territory or facilitate their prosecution. He likened Israel’s stance after October 7 to America’s post-9/11 doctrine of pursuing terrorists worldwide, arguing that states hosting such actors cannot be safe havens. Qatar countered that its hosting of Hamas’s political office has been part of internationally backed mediation and accused Israel of threatening its sovereignty.
The address came amid renewed talk of a hostage deal and discussion of how to constrain Hamas’s operations abroad. Israeli officials said the aim is to deny the group strategic depth and disrupt decision-making while keeping open the possibility of negotiations under pressure. Critics warned that confrontations on foreign soil risk alienating partners whose cooperation is needed to manage the wider conflict and humanitarian picture.
Domestically, the message rallied supporters who see international pursuit of terrorist leaders as essential to deterrence and justice. Detractors argued that public ultimatums could narrow diplomatic options or harden adversaries’ positions. The coming weeks are likely to test whether behind-the-scenes contacts can bridge the gap between security imperatives and the sensitivities of regional diplomacy.
(TOI/VFI News)
“The Lord loves justice and will not forsake His faithful ones.” — Psalm 37:28