Qatar slams Israeli attacks on Hamas leaders in Doha as "state terrorism" after the bombardment rocks the tiny U.S. ally and dashes hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza

Israel carried out an attack targeting Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, in an unprecedented strike on a key mediator in the Gaza conflict that threatened to derail renewed peace efforts and further inflame tensions in the region.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Qatar's prime minister Friday ahead of a visit to Israel this weekend, showing how the Trump administration is trying to balance relations between key Middle East allies days after Israel targeted Hamas leaders in a strike on Doha.

Israel's strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha killed a Qatari security official and created diplomatic tensions between Washington and its key Middle East allies.

After Israel attacked senior Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, oil prices climbed — but not as much as some traders might have expected from a significant flare-up in Middle East violence.

An explosion has been heard in Qatar’s capital city Doha. It wasn’t immediately clear what exploded on Tuesday.