Doha Strike: Philippine Embassy Issues Advisory For Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Qatar has issued a safety advisory for Filipino nationals after an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday, September 9, targeted senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital of Doha.

The embassy's advisory serves as an immediate and primary guide for the estimated 200,000 Filipinos residing and working in Qatar. The advisory, issued late Tuesday, urged all Filipino nationals to "remain calm, monitor news from credible sources, and heed the advice of local authorities." It also explicitly told them to "stay indoors and avoid public spaces unless absolutely necessary."

"In view of recent developments in Doha, the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar urges all Filipino nationals to remain calm, monitor news from credible sources, and heed the advice of local authorities," it said in an advisory issued late Tuesday.

The strike, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed was a "precise strike" against Hamas's political leadership, hit a series of buildings in Doha's Diplomatic Quarter. The attack took place at approximately 3:46 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

According to surveillance footage, the targeted buildings housed Hamas's political wing, with its leaders reportedly meeting to discuss a new U.S. proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. While Israel claimed the strike was to neutralize Hamas leadership, Hamas stated its top figures survived, though five lower-level members were killed. A Qatari security force member also died in the attack.

The incident has been widely condemned by key regional players, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly Israeli attack targeting the residential headquarters of several members of the Hamas Political Bureau in the Qatari capital, Doha."

The ministry added that "This criminal attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms and a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents of Qatar."

The incident has jeopardized ongoing ceasefire talks, with Qatar's prime minister stating that he did not believe the current negotiations were "valid" after the attack.

(This video report from an Australian news channel shows footage of the airstrike in Doha. Video captures moment Israeli airstrike hit Doha, Qatar )

(This video is a news report from Al Jazeera English that details the Qatari Foreign Ministry's denial of claims that the U.S. had provided them with advance warning of the Israeli airstrike. Qatar denies White House claims that US informed Doha about Israeli strikes