Israeli Strike In Doha Deepens Gaza Crisis As Nigeria Pushes For Peace

ISRAEL’S strike on Doha, Qatar, which killed senior Hamas negotiators including Khalil al-Hayya, has jolted Middle East diplomacy and raised doubts about Qatar’s ability to serve as a mediator in the Gaza war.

Israeli officials confirmed the attack, which took place as Hamas leaders were reportedly reviewing new U.S. ceasefire and hostage-release proposals. For years, Qatar has hosted talks between adversaries—from U.S.-Taliban negotiations to indirect Israel-Hamas discussions—cementing its role as a neutral space for dialogue. That neutrality is now in question.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani condemned the strike as a violation of sovereignty and a blow to regional stability, warning that it jeopardised ongoing negotiations. Western diplomats privately admitted that the talks are now “in ruins.”

The killing of al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator, has left a vacuum in the process, while speculation swirls online that U.S. proposals may have been used to lure leaders into one place—though no evidence supports this claim.

Nigeria’s Voice for Diplomacy

Against this backdrop, Nigeria has emerged as a firm advocate for peace. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strike as a breach of international law and called on Israel to respect Qatar’s sovereignty.

Veteran diplomat Amb. Suleiman Dahiru described the attack as “criminal” and a deliberate disruption of peace efforts, adding that Washington’s foreknowledge without intervention was “disappointing.” Nigerian analysts stressed that targeting mediators risks prolonging the Gaza conflict and worsening civilian suffering.

This position reflects Nigeria’s longstanding role in mediation across Africa and beyond. Experts argue that Nigeria’s condemnation, paired with its reputation in global forums, gives it a platform to push for renewed ceasefire talks and humanitarian access in Gaza.

Humanitarian Fallout

Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to mount. Israel ordered the evacuation of Gaza City just hours before the Doha operation, displacing up to a million people. Aid agencies warn that forced movements will deepen famine conditions.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, over 500,000 people in Gaza are already trapped in famine, facing starvation and preventable deaths. In August, the FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO jointly urged an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access.

With more than 60,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023 and hundreds of thousands displaced, humanitarian groups fear the crisis is spiralling beyond control.

Global Ripples

The strike also carries international consequences. It marks Israel’s second high-profile assassination abroad in under a year, after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in July 2024. Unlike Iran, however, Qatar is a close U.S. ally.

The White House issued a rare public rebuke, calling Qatar “a valued partner,” but analysts doubt Washington will apply serious pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is already facing an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes.

Beyond Gaza, the attack has raised concerns about the erosion of diplomatic sanctuaries. “If Hamas negotiators are not safe in Qatar, where are they safe?” one analyst asked.

The timing is particularly sensitive, with countries including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia preparing to formally recognise Palestinian independence. Israeli nationalists, meanwhile, are urging Netanyahu to annex more West Bank land.

A Fragile Future

For Qatar, the strike threatens its carefully built image as a neutral broker. For Palestinians, the humanitarian catastrophe deepens. And for global diplomacy, the incident casts doubt on whether safe spaces for negotiation still exist.

Nigerian experts and other foreign policy analysts warn that without coordinated international action to protect mediators, secure humanitarian access, and restore trust in dialogue, the Gaza conflict will only intensify—with devastating consequences for regional stability.