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India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has voiced serious concern in response to Israeli airstrikes conducted on September 10, 2025, targeting top Hamas leaders in Doha, the capital of Qatar. In an official statement, the MEA called for “restraint and diplomacy” from all parties involved, cautioning that escalatory actions threaten overall peace and security in the region.

The strike, which reportedly killed five prominent Hamas members, has sharpened international focus on the delicate regional dynamics, especially given the incident’s timing during active ceasefire negotiations.

The Israeli government swiftly confirmed that the operation was independently planned and executed by Israeli forces, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office emphasizing Israel’s sole responsibility for the mission.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) described the action as a “precise strike” against the senior leadership of Hamas, whom they hold directly accountable for the October 7 massacre and ongoing hostilities against Israel. The IDF stressed that considerable precautionary measures—including advanced intelligence gathering and the deployment of accurate munitions—were adopted to minimize civilian casualties, underscoring an intent to limit collateral damage in the densely populated diplomatic locale of Doha.

Hamas, in its response, confirmed the death of five team members in the strike, including Himam al-Hayya (son of senior Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya) and Jihad Labad Abu Bilal (office director of Khalil al-Hayya).

The additional casualties—Abdullah Abu Khalil, Muaman Abu Omar, and Ahmad Abu Malek—were reportedly bodyguards and advisers to senior leadership. However, Hamas asserted that the key members of its ceasefire negotiation team survived, framing the attack as a deliberate effort by Israel to sabotage ongoing discussions of an American ceasefire proposal. This allegation implies direct interference in mediation efforts and further complicates prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough between the warring sides.

The circumstances surrounding the strike—occurring as Hamas delegates convened to discuss US-brokered peace terms—have fuelled accusations from Hamas that the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, is not genuinely committed to reaching a negotiated settlement. Nevertheless, Israeli officials maintain that targeting Hamas’s top command structure is essential to counter-terrorism objectives, noting their belief in the effectiveness of the operation and the necessity of acting against those involved in planning and executing attacks on Israel.

India’s intervention, via the MEA, underscores its traditionally measured approach to Middle Eastern crises—prioritizing restraint, dialogue, and the avoidance of actions that could escalate regional conflict. By urging all actors to pursue diplomacy over retaliatory force, India aligns itself with wider international efforts to stabilize the situation following high-profile incidents and reiterates its long-standing advocacy for peaceful resolution mechanisms.

Based On ANI Report