Doha, Qatar – Residents of Doha are expressing widespread concern and anxiety following Israeli strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital on September 9, 2025.
Niamh Collins, a UN agency worker based in Doha, described the experiance as “surreal, very strange… very frightening.” She reported hearing a large explosion at approximately 1.30pm local time that caused her apartment building to “wobble,” followed by scenes of smoke, frantic traffic, and people running.
“Everywhere is in lockdown, there are big safety issues for everybody, we’re advised to stay where we are, go into bunkers and stay safe,” Collins told RTÉ News.
The bombing, she added, was particularly unsettling following recent Iranian strikes within Qatar. “This is very unnerving, everybody is very worried, very concerned,” she stated.
Qatar, a key US ally and host to multiple rounds of talks aimed at ending the Gaza war, has condemned the strikes, stating they targeted the homes of several members of Hamas’s political bureau residing in the country.
The Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency confirmed joint obligation for the strikes in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorized the action in response to a shooting in Jerusalem, claimed by Hamas, that resulted in six fatalities.
Collins, who noted Qatar is typically a “very peaceful, diplomatic place,” indicated she is planning to return to Ireland within the next month, citing a growing sense of unease in recent weeks. “I felt it for the last week or two… you can feel an uneasiness,” she said.
