Israeli Strike on Hamas in Qatar Sparks Concerns Over Turkey

The recent Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar has sent shockwaves across the region, raising concerns that Turkey could be the next focus in Israel’s expanding campaign against the Palestinian group.

On September 9, Israeli jets struck a Hamas meeting in Doha, killing six leaders. The attack surprised many, given Qatar’s role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States — positions many assumed would protect it from Israeli military action.

Within hours of the strike, attention in Washington and Jerusalem shifted toward Turkey. Analysts and officials warned that Ankara’s NATO membership might not shield it from potential Israeli actions. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute cautioned that Turkey could be the next target, emphasizing that “NATO membership is no guarantee of protection.” Similarly, Israeli academic Meir Masri tweeted bluntly: “Today Qatar, tomorrow Turkey.”

The rhetoric provoked a strong response from Ankara. A senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel, labeling it a “dog of Zionism” and warning that its “erasure from the map” would bring peace to the world.

The strike and subsequent threats underscore growing regional tensions, highlighting the precarious balance of diplomacy, military power, and alliances in the Middle East.