Kenya on Thursday condemned the Israeli attack on a residential building in Doha, Qatar, breaking its own tradition of staying coy on Middle East crises involving Tel Aviv.
And Nairobi warned the shelling of Doha on Tuesday as Israel hunted down Hamas militant chiefs violates international law and should be discouraged in future.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya described the attack as a “clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar” and warned that such actions threaten regional and international peace and security.
“The government of the republic of Kenya notes with great concern the attack on a building in the State of Qatar that resulted in casualties, loss of life and properties on Tuesday September 9, 2025. On its own admission, the State of Israel carried out this bombing,” read the statement.
Kenya has traditionally often avoided condemning Israeli attacks even when they involved bombardment of Gaza, the Palestinian enclave now facing a manmade famine as Israel blockades the areas to flush out Hamas militants. Instead, Nairobi called for restraint and dialogue and other peaceful means of resolving conflicts.
The attack on Doha came as Qatar hosted a delegation of Hamas leaders to consider a ceasefire proposal. Qatar has been one of the few countries involved in direct mediation between Israel and Hamas, the other countries including Egypt and the US.
But targeting representatives of Hamas could now risk slowing or even ending chances of peace. Israel has demanded the release of hostages abducted by Hamas after it raided Israel on October 7, 2023. It has also demanded the release of bodies of the dead. In response to the abductions, Israeli forces have bombarded Gaza, killing more than 60,000 people in its wake, according to UN estimates.
Kenya expressed deep concern over the attack on Qatar, which resulted in five deaths. The actual targets survived the incident.
The attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of diplomatic processes, including ongoing hostage negotiations, and the broader implications for stability in the Gulf region. Several Western countries, including the UK and France, condemned Israel and warned that this could damage peace bids. The African Union, Ghana and several other north African countries also condemned the attack.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country would target Hamas wherever they are. It has reached as far as Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, with precision targeted attacks on sites there, killing militants.
“The attack not only violates international law but also undermines the principles of peace and security that we must all uphold. It is incompatible with the United Nations 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States,” read the Kenyan statement.
The government urged all parties involved in the conflict to prioritise peaceful dialogue over acts of violence. The Ministry stressed that diplomacy, negotiation, and mutual understanding must take precedence to prevent further escalation and loss of life.
The Ministry also highlighted Kenya’s commitment to upholding international law and promoting regional and global stability. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, it stressed, is fundamental to ensuring lasting peace.
“Kenya urges all parties to exercise restraint, uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states, prioritise dialogue and diplomacy over violence and commit to peaceful coexistence,” read the statement.
By Wednesday evening, the Qatari interior ministry said specialised teams were working to “identify two individuals reported missing”, adding that human remains had been discovered “in various locations”.
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani called the deadly strike in the Qatari capital an act of “state terror”.
Israel’s war in Gaza has been a personal political project for Netanyahu who faces an ICC arrest warrant issued last year alongside former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, for bearing criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Israeli government and both men rejected the accusations.
