Key Points and Summary – Lawrence J. Haas argues the world should welcome Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar.
-He says it enforces the post-9/11 norm of holding states accountable for terrorists they host, advances “freeing Palestine” by weakening Hamas, and answers global calls to disarm the group. He contends Israel’s broader campaign has blunted Iran’s ‘axis of resistance,’ degraded Hezbollah, and exposed Tehran’s limits, while appeasement would invite further aggression—much as NATO warns about Russia.
F-16I Fighter from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-If governments mean what they say about deterring terror and coercion elsewhere, Haas writes, they should applaud targeting Hamas leadership rather than condemn it. Consistency matters, he argues.
Opinion: Why Israel’s Qatar Strike Deserves Applause
At first blush, the world seems universally outraged over Israel’s strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar – with Washington expressing unhappiness, Western leaders threatening retaliation, Arab nations convening in Doha, and the UN’s Human Rights Commission holding an “urgent debate.”
But looks may be deceiving.
In fact, people all over the world must surely be applauding the Jewish state. After all, Israel’s action furthers the various causes they promote with such gusto.
Here are some of those who must be applauding:
Those who want to hold states responsible for the terrorists they support – Most Americans seemed to agree when, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush said he would hold the Taliban responsible for harboring al-Qaeda in Afghanistan – and, more generally, hold other governments that “support or shelter” terrorists responsible for any resulting terrorist activity.
Ten years later, the nation came together in spontaneous public celebrations, including outside the White House, when U.S. forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden in Pakistan – without informing Islamabad beforehand.
Well, Qatar has provided financial support to Hamas and allowed the group’s leaders to reside within its borders. So, those around the world who supported the United States after 9/11, and who admired Washington’s moxie in killing bin Laden, must be supporting Israel’s effort to hunt down those who perpetrated the barbaric slaughter of 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.
Those who want to “free Palestine.” – Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip with an iron fist since 2007, when it ousted the Palestinian Authority in a bloody coup. Since then, it has brutalized innocent Gazans and purposely put them in harm’s way when Israeli responds to its terrorist attacks in hopes of giving Israel a public relations black eye as civilian deaths mount.
In Lebanon, Israel has decapitated the leadership of Hezbollah, giving the Lebanese people a long-sought opportunity to disarm the terrorist group and reduce its political, military, and financial stranglehold on the country.
So, surely those who want to “free Palestine” support Israel’s continued defanging of Hamas, which could give Gazans the same opportunity to build a brighter future as the Lebanese people now have.
Those who want to disarm Hamas – Everyone of note seems to agree that “Hamas should disarm” (on its own) or that “Hamas should be disarmed” (by some outside force). Even the 22-member Arab League joined the European Union and 17 other nations in late July in calling for Hamas to “disarm and relinquish power in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas won’t voluntarily give up its arms, of course, and no nation other than Israel is stepping up to disarm it. So, those who support the goal of disarming Hamas surely understand that decapitating its leaders – who have vowed to mount more October 7-like attacks to destroy Israel – is a key step down that road.
Those who oppose Iran and the terrorist groups in its “axis of resistance.” – The Middle East is safer and more secure because, since the October 7 attacks, Israel has severely damaged Iran’s nuclear sites (with U.S. help), exposed the Islamic Republic as a paper tiger in direct military exchanges between the two, killed Hezbollah’s leaders and many of its operatives, and severely weakened Hamas.
F-16I Sufa Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Iran and its axis were further weakened by the toppling of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, which has denied Tehran the gateway through which it transported weapons to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Those who recognize the challenges that Iran presents – with its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs, terror sponsorship, hegemonic ambitions, and efforts to destabilize regional governments – surely understand that destroying Hamas will further weaken Iran and, in turn, nourish the cause of long-term regional peace.
Those who recognize the downsides of appeasement – NATO, which has supported Ukraine rather than appease Vladimir Putin after Russia’s 2022 invasion, now plans to “move troops and fighter jets eastwards” in response to Putin’s new efforts to test Western resolve.
In recent days, Poland and Romania reported that Russia drones have violated the airspace of these NATO member nations. Russia, in turn, has said that it’s “at war with NATO,” and this week it “put on a display of firepower” as part of “major military exercises” in Belarus, a close ally.
Western leaders are clearly worried that Putin has set his sights on Eastern European nations that once were part of the Soviet empire, so they surely recognize that Israel is right to keep the pressure on Iran and its proxies (including Hamas) – rather than encourage further aggression by appeasing them.
All told, in other words, the world is assuredly supporting Israel as it targets Hamas’ leaders. That is, if governments, regional institutions, and individual leaders mean what they say about comparable situations elsewhere.
About the Author:
Lawrence J. Haas is a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and the author of, among other books, Harry and Arthur: Truman, Vandenberg, and the Partnership That Created the Free World.
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Jim
September 16, 2025 at 4:16 pm
But they don’t. In fact the Arab League has denounced this obvious violation of sovereignty against a “friend” of the United States which hosts the largest U. S. military installation on the Persian Gulf.
And violates basic norms of international relations: you don’t murder negotiators in the midst of negotiations… this has been a recognized concept in the relation of nations for millennia and also goes against a sense of fair play… and good faith.
… a concept apparently unknown in the Netanyahu coalition.
The author is wrong. Most of the World opposes Israeli “assassin” tactics (Trump has been complicit in these assassin tactics to his and the United States detriment and dishonor).
Who believes the United States negotiates in good faith after such underhanded maneuvers? Who wants to meet in one spot with United States or Israeli knowledge? (It’s a set up for decapitation strike.)
I’m not sure where the author is coming from:
Israel is as isolated from the Civilized Community of Nations as it ever has been in its 77 years of existence from its 1948 inception.
Hamas is a terrorist organization which takes actions which have resulted in the physical destruction of their nation and lead to the death of many innocent (yes, there are innocents in Gaza) civilians… and its actions have expedited an expel & removal, by any means necessary, strategy by the Israeli government (Netanyahu coalition).
If you didn’t know better, it would seem Hamas is playing right into Netanyahu’s hands by acting in such a way… maybe, their leaders are betraying the people by being paid by Israel… I’ve heard this has happened before…
… of course, I don’t know whether that is true or not.
But Israel is no better… it takes two to tango… a pox on both their houses.
I won’t go any further, if you support an Israeli First foreign policy agenda… go to it.
But, I would also argue these actions which the author cheers, actually hurt Israel’s relations around the World, and hurt United States interests around the World, too.
I put America First, not Israel.
Apologists for Israel take a back seat in my opinion.
We don’t need their hands on the wheel so they can drive us off the cliff… Thelma & Louise style.