Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday conveyed India’s deep concern over the escalation of violence in Doha following an Israeli airstrike that targeted senior Hamas figures residing in Qatar’s capital. In a telephone conversation with Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Modi expressed solidarity with the Qatari leadership while strongly condemning any violation of the sovereignty of the “brotherly State of Qatar.”

The Indian leader emphasised the necessity of diplomacy and dialogue to address regional disputes rather than allowing tensions to spiral into wider confrontation.

He reiterated India’s steadfast position of standing against terrorism in all forms and manifestations while underscoring support for peace and stability in West Asia, an area of vital strategic and economic importance to New Delhi.

The condemnation came amid a rapidly unfolding controversy over allegations that the United States had prior knowledge of Israel’s air campaign in Doha. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated at a press briefing that President Donald Trump had directed Special Envoy Witkoff to immediately notify Qatar of Israel’s impending military strike.

Leavitt insisted that the outreach was carried out “promptly” out of respect for Qatar, which she described as a strong ally and friend of the United States.

However, this American assertion was flatly rejected by Qatari officials. Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated publicly that Qatar had not been informed of the attack in advance. 

He clarified that the first American call came during the explosions in Doha, after residential neighbourhoods had already been struck. This contradiction between Washington and Doha has underscored the deep mistrust woven into the fragile regional landscape.

According to reports from CNN, Israel’s operation targeted Hamas’s top leadership in Doha, where several negotiators had been based due to Qatar’s role as a mediator in ceasefire efforts related to Gaza. 

Israel confirmed that multiple fighter jets were used in the raid, widely believed to include US-manufactured F‑35I stealth aircraft capable of evading advanced radar systems. Israeli officials later acknowledged that while five Hamas members were killed, the attempt to eliminate the core Hamas negotiating delegation was unsuccessful.

This revelation has heightened regional anxieties, as the attack appears to have been aimed not merely at military targets but at undermining Qatar’s diplomatic credibility as an intermediary in wider Middle Eastern peace processes.

Qatar responded with strong language, denouncing the Israeli action as both unlawful and destabilising. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, speaking at a press conference, described Israel as a “rogue player” in the Middle East and characterised the strikes as “state terrorism.”

He further maintained that the United States had contacted Doha only ten minutes after the airstrikes had been carried out, confirming Qatar’s stance that there was no prior warning. The Prime Minister also alleged that Israel employed advanced stealth strike capabilities, enabling its aircraft to penetrate Qatari airspace undetected, thereby raising new concerns about the vulnerability of regional air defence systems against cutting-edge aerial platforms.

This attack marks a dangerous escalation in the Middle East’s already fragile political and security environment. Qatar—long a hub for international mediation—now finds its security directly compromised, and its role as a neutral facilitator in question. Israel’s use of F‑35I stealth fighters highlights the strategic advantage of advanced US platforms and the difficulties regional states face in protecting sovereignty.

At the same time, the discordant narratives presented by Washington and Doha regarding foreknowledge of the strike risk straining the US‑Qatari alliance, already under scrutiny due to divergent approaches to Hamas. For India, the episode underscores the volatility of its extended neighbourhood, given the region’s significance for energy supplies, Indian diaspora security, and maritime stability.

Modi’s swift outreach and diplomatic positioning reflect New Delhi’s intent to project itself as a steady advocate for peace and dialogue at a time when the Gulf faces one of its most severe security breaches in recent years.

Based On ANI Report