Pope Leo XIV urges prayers after Israeli strike in Qatar, Gaza evacuation order

On Sept. 9, Pope Leo XIV called the situation in the Middle East “very serious” and asked for prayers, Vatican News reported. His remarks came after Israel carried out its first-ever airstrike in Qatar and ordered residents of Gaza City, Palestine, to evacuate ahead of a separate major assault.

Qatar, a key mediator in peace talks between Israel and Hamas, said in an Interior Ministry statement that the Sept. 9 strike killed a member of its internal security force. 

“We must pray a lot and keep working, searching, insisting on peace,” the Pope told reporters outside Castel Gandolfo, according to Vatican News. He said he tried to contact Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic parish after Israel dropped evacuation leaflets but could not reach parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli.

“I tried to call the parish priest just now; I have no news,” Pope Leo said. “They were certainly okay before, but after this new order, I’m not sure.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Sept. 9 social media post that it “conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization” and vowed to “continue to operate with determination in order to defeat” Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed full responsibility, calling the strike “a wholly independent Israeli operation.”

In a Sept. 9 statement, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson condemned the “cowardly” attack “that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha.”

“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms,” the spokesperson said, “and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.” 

According to Axios, Hamas claimed its top leaders survived but admitted the strike killed five members, including the son of Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Haia. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a Sept. 9 statement from President Donald Trump, who condemned the strike and said he “feels very bad about its location.”

“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard in bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel's or America's goals,” Trump’s statement said. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal."

Trump told US envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatari officials as soon as he heard about the strike and that Netanyahu later assured him of his desire to make peace, Leavitt said.

Axios reported the strike occurred as Hamas leaders and Qatari officials met to discuss the Trump administration’s peace proposal, which was sent to Hamas earlier this month. 

Meanwhile, Israeli aircraft dropped evacuation leaflets over Gaza City Sept. 9, urging residents to leave immediately before a major military advancement, Reuters reported. Some civilians said they had nowhere to go, and others said they would not leave.

Christian clergy and nuns said last month they would stay inside church compounds in Gaza to care for the elderly, disabled, women, and children sheltering there, CatholicVote reported Aug. 26.