The Philippine government has strongly condemned Israel’s airstrike in Doha that killed six people and shook the heart of Qatar’s capital, calling it a “grave violation of international law” and a dangerous breach of sovereignty.
In an official statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippines expressed “deep regret” over the September 9 attack, which targeted Hamas leaders in a residential compound during ceasefire discussions.
“The Philippines deplores the attack in Doha which is a grave violation of international law, particularly the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” the DFA said.
Embassy monitoring Filipinos in Qatar
The Philippine Embassy in Doha said it is closely monitoring the situation and has urged Filipinos in Qatar to remain calm and heed official advisories. As of this writing, no Filipino casualties have been reported.
“[The Embassy] has advised the Filipino community in Qatar to remain calm and follow official advisories. To date, the Embassy has not received any report of Filipino casualties in the attack,” the DFA confirmed.
Global condemnation of the strike
The September 9 strike marked the first Israeli attack on Qatari soil, sending shockwaves across the Middle East. While top Hamas leaders survived, the attack killed five Hamas members—including the son of senior figure Khalil al-Hayya—and a Qatari security officer.
Qatar denounced the bombing as “state terrorism” and vowed that it “reserves the right to respond.” Germany, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and the UN also criticized the move, warning it could destabilize the region and derail ongoing ceasefire efforts. Russia branded it a “gross violation” of the UN Charter, while Germany said the strike was “unacceptable.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has been brokering a ceasefire deal, also expressed frustration, saying Israel’s action in a key ally’s capital undermined peace negotiations. Although Washington was notified beforehand, U.S. officials stressed they were not involved in the operation.
Philippines pushes for peace
Amid growing fears of escalation, the Philippines underscored the urgency of halting hostilities in Gaza and preventing further spillover into the region.
“The Philippines highlights the need for parties to the conflict in Gaza to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and work towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” the DFA said.
