Qatar has typically been the mediator of choice for conflicts in the Middle East, but last week, Israel carried out its first-ever airstrike on the country when it targeted Hamas officials in the capital Doha. Those officials were looking over the latest ceasefire proposal to put an end to the war in Gaza that was put forward by the United States. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get to know Qatar better as a nation, its role in Middle Eastern diplomacy, and why Israel’s strike is so notable.

Squiz Recommends:

Reading: This article in Tatler covering Sheik Tamim’s visit to the UK last year gives a fascinating look into the house of al-Thani. 

Reading: This piece from the New York Times titled What Drove Israel’s Brazen Attack on Hamas in Qatar? (paywall). It’s a good wrap-up of what many well-credentialled experts think, and a lot of it seems to come down to frustration with the peace process…

Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. 

⁠Squiz Shortcuts⁠ is your back story to the big news stories…

Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here