Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday after Israel launched a rare strike in Doha, Qatar, killing several Hamas members and a Qatari security officer.
The attack, the first of its kind on Qatari soil, immediately rattled energy markets and triggered a diplomatic storm.
WTI crude climbed 1.37% to $63.11, while Brent rose 1.32% to $66.89 as traders factored in geopolitical risks. Analysts noted that while Qatar exports little crude, it is a top natural gas supplier and a central player in the Gulf’s energy network.
The strike comes amid existing supply-side pressures, from OPEC+ production shifts to U.S. shale pullbacks, adding fresh volatility to global oil benchmarks.
Israel targets Hamas members in Doha
According to local authorities, the Israeli strike hit a residential area in Doha, killing five Hamas members along with a Qatari security officer. The White House confirmed that Israel had targeted Hamas negotiators “unfortunately located in Doha,” though it distanced itself from the decision.
U.S. officials said President Donald Trump’s envoy had attempted to notify Qatar beforehand, but Doha insists the warning came only after explosions were already underway.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied claims of prior notice. Spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stated that the U.S. call came “during the sound of the explosions.”
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the strike “state terrorism” and a violation of Qatari sovereignty. He added that Washington’s notification arrived ten minutes after the attack had begun.
Trump responds, Netanyahu blamed
Trump later expressed regret over the incident, assuring Qatar that such an attack would not be repeated. He clarified that the decision was taken solely by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This was a decision made by [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, emphasizing that his envoy’s warning “came too late.”
