ICU Medical at Morgan Stanley Conference: Strategic Growth and Challenges
ICU Medical Presents on Strategic Growth and Challenges at Morgan Stanley Conference
Iran and UN in disagreement over nuclear deal, tension rises | Latest updates on Israel-Iran conflict
Agreement potentially paves way for resumed cooperation after Israel-Iran conflict sparked rift between Tehran and UN.
Published On 10 Sep 2025
The United Nations nuclear watchdog and Iran have offered seemingly contradictory statements regarding a deal to resume cooperation on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday that it had secured a deal offering it access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, shortly afterwards, Tehran insisted that the agreement does not guarantee inspections.
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The deal, announced on Tuesday, was seen as capping months of tension. Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA after attacks by Israel and the United States on its nuclear facilities in June.
Speaking to the IAEA Board of Governors on Wednesday, Director General Rafael Grossi provided details of the agreement announced a day earlier, saying it includes “all facilities and installations in Iran” and “contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities, including the nuclear material present”.
“Iran and the agency will now resume cooperation in a respective and comprehensive way,” he added, despite “the technical nature” of the document’s contents.
However, shortly afterwards, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the deal does not guarantee inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran wants further talks on how inspections are to be carried out.
“I have to reiterate the agreement does not currently provide access to IAEA inspectors, apart from the Bushehr nuclear plant,” Araghchi told state TV in an interview.
“Based on reports that Iran will issue in the future, the nature of access will have to be discussed at an appropriate time,” he added.
Access would require the approval of the Supreme National Security Council. During its most recent inspection, the IAEA was not given access to key sites that were struck by Israel and the US.
While Iran’s uranium enrichment sites were badly damaged or destroyed by the strikes, it is unclear what happened to the country’s stockpile, which includes uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity, a short step from the roughly 90 percent required for weapons-grade.
European powers have threatened to reimpose international sanctions against Iran that were lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal.
Warming relations
Nevertheless, Tuesday’s agreement marked a warming of IAEA-Iran relations after a protracted back-and-forth.
After the Israeli and US strikes in a 12-day war that killed more than 600 people – among them top scientists and military personnel – and injured thousands, relations broke down.
Angered that the IAEA did not condemn the attacks and accusing the agency of “double standards”, President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law in early July suspending all cooperation with the watchdog and prompting inspectors to leave the country.
For its part, the IAEA has described its inability to verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile since the start of the war “a matter of serious concern”.
Although Araghchi said the agreement addresses Iran’s concerns, he had warned on Tuesday that Tehran was prepared to terminate the agreement if “any hostile act” took place against Iran.
“The message is clear: Iran will never compromise on its sovereignty, rights or security. At the same time, Iran is demonstrating restraint and responsibility by reaching an agreement with the agency to allow continued cooperation,” Araghchi said.
Tehran has stressed that the deal would be scrapped should international sanctions be reimposed.
CFO announces Tapestry’s new strategy focused on Gen Z and growth, aiming for $4 billion in shareholder returns
Good morning. New York City-based Tapestry, Inc., parent of luxury brands Coach and Kate Spade New York, is executing a three-year strategy focused on profitable growth and strong shareholder returns.
The “Amplify” strategy is anchored on four pillars: building emotional connections with consumers (especially Gen Z), advancing fashion innovation, delivering compelling global experiences, and fostering an agile, consumer-focused culture.
These priorities build on proven strategies, especially at Coach, according to CFO and COO Scott Roe, who spoke with me on Tuesday ahead of the company’s investor day.
Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly choosing Coach, driving a beat for the quarter that ended June 28, fueled by these demographics. “By 2030, Gen Z and millennials will make up over 70% of the market,” Roe said. Tapestry aims to capture their first luxury purchase.
“The long-term value of acquiring customers at this initial entry point is substantial,” he said. “While others talk to millions, we’re talking to billions of potential consumers.”
In the same quarter, Tapestry reported a non-cash impairment charge of $855 million related to Kate Spade and a 13% revenue decline for the brand, Fortune reported. Despite this, having achieved previous goals, the company is confident its strategy can drive future growth for both Coach and Kate Spade, Roe said.
Tapestry plans for Coach to deliver mid-single-digit annual revenue growth (CAGR) and expand its operating margin to the mid-30% range over the next three years, with a longer-term goal of reaching $10 billion in annual revenue.
And the company expects Kate Spade to return to profitable top-line growth in Fiscal 2027 and target mid-single-digit revenue growth and high single-digit operating margin by Fiscal 2028.
“Scale and investment in marketing have never been more important,” Roe emphasized. “There are no barriers to entry in our category, but significant barriers to scale.” Over the past three years, Tapestry’s marketing investment has grown from 3.5% to more than 11% of revenue, with plans to increase it by another 200 basis points.
Tapestry plans to return $4 billion to shareholders by fiscal 2028, representing 100% of adjusted free cash flow from FY26 to FY28, even after capital expenditures, Roe said. The business now operates at a sustainable mid-single-digit growth rate, driven by a self-reinforcing model focused on quality growth and margin expansion, he said.
This performance enables significant reinvestment in the business, resulting in robust earnings and cash flow, Roe said. Capital allocation priorities include growing the dividend (targeting a 30% payout ratio) and a recently authorized $3 billion share repurchase, returning all free cash flow to shareholders.
“This is a powerful message that truly reflects our conviction in the future,” Roe said.
Sheryl Estrada
sheryl.estrada@fortune.com
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Fortune 500 Power Moves
Ranjith Roy has been promoted to CFO of Yum! Brands (No. 491), the parent company of household-name brands including KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. Roy is taking over from Chris Turner, promoted to CEO, effective Oct. 1. Roy joined Yum! in 2024 as chief strategy officer and treasurer, overseeing strategy, mergers and acquisitions and treasury operations. Before joining Yum!, he served as CFO of the e-commerce marketplace Goldbelly, where he helped scale operations. He also spent more than 15 years with Goldman Sachs, where he led investment banking relationships for restaurant, food and food tech businesses, building industry expertise.
Roy brings to the CFO role a “blend of commercial acumen, strategic insight on Yum!, and the restaurant industry,” Turner said in a statement. “He has a proven ability to navigate fast-paced and complex environments with a sharp focus on long-term value creation.”
Every Friday morning, the weekly Fortune 500 Power Moves column tracks Fortune 500 company C-suite shifts—see the most recent edition.
Big Deal
CFOs are grappling with the volume and pace of AI developments in corporate finance, according to Gartner Inc., a business and technology insights company.
Gartner’s research finds three areas stand out as having the potential for transformational impact while reaching mainstream adoption within two years: Generative AI in finance, composite AI and responsible AI.
“The pace and potential of AI developments in finance can be overwhelming,” Alex Levine, director analyst in the Gartner Finance practice, said in a statement. “The AI in Finance Hype Cycle aims to help finance leaders cut through the noise and focus on technologies likely to have the most impact in the near-term.”
Below is Gartner’s Hype Cycle for AI in Finance, 2025
Going deeper
“Workday’s CEO says his career took off after he changed his attitude—and Amazon boss Andy Jassy swears by the same mindset hack” is a Fortune report by Preston Fore.
From the report: “$62 billion Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach reveals Gen Z’s career success won’t come from chasing titles or padding resumes—but by shifting their mindset. Instead, he says Gen Z should double down on attitude, authenticity, and relationships to thrive in an AI-disrupted workplace.” You can read the complete report here.
Overheard
“It really helped me through some difficult times, being diagnosed with ADHD, and helping me kind of slow down my thoughts and be more strategic.”
—Veteran NFL wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr., an investor in Chess.com, said on Tuesday during Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference in Park City, Utah, that chess had a formative influence on his youth and helped him manage the challenges of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. He learned the game from his father, who played on both the Indiana State University chess and football teams, Fortune reported.
This is the web version of CFO Daily, a newsletter on the trends and individuals shaping corporate finance. Sign up for free.
Organisers claim Greta Thunberg’s Gaza flotilla was targeted by drones.
GLOBAL SUDUM FLOTILLATwo vessels that are part of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists including Greta Thunberg have been struck in separate suspected drone attacks, flotilla organisers have claimed.
Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) posted footage on Tuesday appearing to show the first boat being hit by an object outside the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said.
Tunisian authorities disputed a drone was involved and said an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel.
GSF then released footage appearing to show a second boat being hit later over Tuesday night, saying it “sustained fire damage on its top deck”. Tunisian authorities are yet to comment on the second claim.
No injuries were reported in either incident, organisers of the humanitarian aid flotilla said.
The vessels set sail from Barcelona last week and arrived in Tunisia on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the GSF said their “Family boat” had been struck in Tunisian waters, and fire had damaged the main deck of the Portuguese-flagged boat.
In a series of videos published to their Instagram, spokespeople for the GSF said an “incendiary device” caused a fire onboard the vessel, which the crew was able to extinguish.
Tunisian authorities quoted by Reuters said reports a drone was involved “had no basis in truth”. A spokesperson for the Tunisian national guard told the AFP news agency “no drone” had been detected and the investigation was continuing.
EPAOver Tuesday night, GSF posted a separate video claiming a second boat had been struck in a suspected drone attack off Tunisia’s coast.
GSF said the British-flagged Alma vessel had been docked in Tunisian waters when it was “attacked by a drone”, organisers said in a statement.
It added: “The fire has since been extinguished, and all passengers and crew are safe.
“An investigation is currently under way and when more information is available it will be released immediately.”
BBC Verify has verified CCTV footage of a strike on the Alma ship just off the coast of Tunisia that was published on GSF’s Instagram account.
Three white storage blocks can be seen at the rear of the Alma – which tally with stock photos of the vessel along with the railings either side.
The Tunisian coastline around Sidi Bou Said can also be seen.
BBC Verify has also authenticated several videos of the claimed first strike on the “Family” vessel off the coast of Tunisia.
David Heathcote, head of intelligence at McKenzie Intelligence Services, told the BBC the nature of the impact angle in footage implies “that the object has been dropped, rather than launched or fired”.
“If so, it could be that a drone was used to manoeuvre over the ship before the package was released on to it,” he said.
“Regardless of the method of delivery, the impact video casts serious doubt on the Tunisian authorities’ version of events,” Mr Heathcote added.
UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and Tunisian resident Francesca Albanese, who was also featured in videos shared by the GSF, said if an attack could be verified it would be an “assault and aggression against Tunisia, and Tunisian sovereignty”.
Albanese said she was at Sidi Bou Said port and “trying to figure out the facts with local authorities”.
She has been a prominent critic of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, and has been subject to sanctions imposed by the US in July – a decision welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who called them a “firm measure against the mendacious smear campaign” against Israel.
Flotilla organisers have said the aim of their mission is to “break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza”, but have faced several setbacks.
In June, Israeli forces boarded a boat carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and detained the 12 activists onboard, including Swedish activist Thunberg.
Israeli authorities escorted the activists to the port of Ashdod before deporting them from the country.
Israeli authorities have characterised the attempts to sail aid to Gaza as publicity stunts that offered no real humanitarian assistance.
There have also been prior allegations of drone attacks on aid ships bound for Gaza; the Freedom Flotilla alleged that its ship The Conscience was struck by a drone in May off the coast of Malta.
The BBC was sent a recording of the distress call from the flotilla ship, recorded by a crew member on a nearby oil tanker. The captain of the flotilla ship can be heard reporting drone strikes and a fire onboard.
The Maltese government had said everyone aboard the ship was “confirmed safe” and that a fire onboard the ship was “brought under control overnight”.
Last month a UN-backed body confirmed that there was famine in Gaza and the UN’s humanitarian chief said it was the direct result of Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of aid entering Gaza.
The report was labelled an “outright lie” by Israel, which has denied there is starvation in the territory.
In March, it introduced a nearly three-month total blockade on supplies entering the Strip, claiming the aid was being taken by Hamas.
It started allowing a limited amount of aid back into the territory after increasing international pressure.
Israel has since tried to impose its own distribution system through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been criticised by aid agencies.
In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 people when they boarded Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 64,522 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
TikTok’s SoundOn platform surpasses 1 million registered artists and expands to Germany.
TikTok’s SoundOn has seen over 1.1 million artists register to access its services since launching in 2022.
Now, the platform is launching in Germany, the world’s fourth-largest recorded music market.
The Germany roll-out marks the distribution and services platform’s latest expansion following its initial launch in markets such as the UK, US, Brazil and Indonesia, and Australia.
According to its website, SoundOn currently counts 1.158 million “partners and growing”. MBW understands this to mean artists who have registered (i.e. signed up) on the platform.
Of these registered artists, TikTok noted today, SoundOn has seen “hundreds of thousands” of acts release music and generate revenue on the platform.
The launch in Germany will allow local artists to distribute their songs across major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Deezer, Pandora and more.
SoundOn also lets artists upload their music directly to TikTok.
“We are really pleased to launch SoundOn in Germany – one of the world’s biggest and most exciting music markets.”
Nichal Sethi, SoundOn
Nichal Sethi, Head of SoundOn EMEA, said: “We are really pleased to launch SoundOn in Germany – one of the world’s biggest and most exciting music markets. SoundOn provides artists with the tools to distribute their music globally across all major streaming services, ensuring they are paid fairly while supporting their development and visibility.
“By combining global distribution with the unique promotional opportunities available on TikTok, SoundOn enables artists to build sustainable careers and reach audiences at scale. We’ve had global successes already with our artists in Germany – the likes of WizTheMc and Ely Oaks – and can’t wait to break the next independent artist there.”
TikTok cites SoundOn success stories such as Austrian DJ Ely Oaks as having accumulated 770,000 TikTok followers and saw his track Borderline reach No. 17 on German charts after going viral.
South African-German artist WizTheMc also achieved success via SoundOn, with his song Show Me Love feat. bees & honey reaching No. 3 in the singles charts in Germany and the UK. A remix of the song by Tyla generated over 500 million streams on Spotify, helping WizTheMc gain more than 29 million monthly listeners, TikTok said.
“I’m now in the charts from Berlin to Johannesburg and in the US with millions of listeners.”
WizTheMc, Soundon Artist
WizTheMc said (translated to English): “I’ve made music on three continents and always searched for the right vibe.
“The fact that Show Me Love is now triggering such a global moment via SoundOn feels absolutely crazy — but also like the loudest confirmation that music knows no boundaries. I always wanted to make music that feels at home everywhere.”
“I’m now in the charts from Berlin to Johannesburg and in the US with millions of listeners. This shows me that anything is possible if you believe in your vision.”
Ely Oaks added: “For me, SoundOn is the place where my music resonates directly with people. I have the opportunity to get feedback directly from the community, and people decide which songs they really want.”
“SoundOn gives me the freedom to set trends and share my sound without compromise. If you’re honest and just do what you feel, the community grows on its own and celebrates you for who you truly are.”
SoundOn’s expansion to Germany also comes as TikTok recently launched TikTok Pro in Germany, Portugal and Spain, with a built-in charity program called Sunshine Program that lets users support charitable groups.
The German launch comes as TikTok continues to grow its user base in Europe. Last Friday (September 5), the platform reported reaching the 200 million-user milestone in Europe, growing from 175 million last year. TikTok says this is equivalent to almost a third of the continent’s population in the European Economic Area and the UK.
In the DACH region alone, which consists of Germany, Australia and Switzerland, TikTok’s user base has reached over 30 million people, with the majority — or 25.7 million — in Germany.
Data from Oxford Economics suggests that activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on TikTok contributed EUR €4.8 billion (approx. USD $5.6 billion) to the economy in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. SMEs on TikTok have also created more than 51,000 jobs, the data suggests. TikTok noted in January last year that in Germany alone, SMEs on TikTok added €1.5 billion ($1.8bn) to the economy in 2023 and created 18,600 jobs.
Music Business Worldwide
Protester detained for wearing ‘Plasticine Action’ t-shirt
Miles Pickering is a protester who was arrested over wearing a ‘Plasticine Action’ t-shirt in London.
Customer Challenge
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2026 Winter Juniors Qualifier Carter Bradley Chooses West Virginia for Verbal Commitment
By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Carter Bradley from Lakewood, Colorado, has verbally committed to swim and study at West Virginia University in the class of 2030. At the time of his verbal commitment, he wrote on social media:
“I’m extremely thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at West Virginia University! I want to thank my family, friends, teammates, and coaches for their endless support and for pushing me to this point. I’d also like to thank the coaching staff at West Virginia for giving me this amazing opportunity. GO MOUNTAINEERS!”
A senior at Columbine High School, Bradley swims for his school and for Foothills Swim Team. He was runner-up in both the 200 free (1:39.94) and the 500 free (4:32.24) at the 2025 CHSAA Boys 5A State Championships last May. In three years of high school swimming, he has received 6 All-Conference and 3 All-American awards.
Bradley hit four PBs in the 200/500/1650 free and 50 back at 2024 Winter Juniors West. Three months later, at Boise Sectionals, he clocked a number of lifetime bests, while finaling in the 100 free (8th), 200 free (7th), 500 free (4th), and 1650 free (5th).
This summer, Bradley had a strong performance at Mt. Hood Sectionals, where he placed 8th in the 1500 free, 11th in the 400 free, 19th in the 200 free, and 26th in the 100 free, and took home new PBs in the 100 free (52.77), 400 free (4:04.91), 1500 free (16:29.79), 50 back (28.17), and 100 back (59.62).
Best SCY times:
- 200 back – 1:49.53
- 400 IM – 3:58.58
- 1650 free – 15:45.73
- 500 free – 4:29.24
- 200 free – 1:40.40
- 100 free – 46.02
Bradley grew up playing soccer and tennis competitively before focusing on swimming five years ago. He will join Kenneth McGlothen, Owen Eisenhofer, Roman Torres, and Rylan Sepulveda in the Mountaineers’ class of 2030.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.
About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour
Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.
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Read the full story on SwimSwam: Winter Juniors Qualifier Carter Bradley (2026) Sends Verbal Commitment to West Virginia
First-ever chlamydia vaccine for koalas approved worldwide
Australia’s embattled koalas have been given some good news for once, with the approval of the world’s first chlamydia vaccine for the marsupial. More than a decade in the making, the vaccine will protect koalas from the widespread disease that causes painful urinary tract infections, infertility, blindness and death.
Developed by University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) scientists, with the support of global institutions including the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), the International Vaccine Institute, the University of British Colombia and Dalhousie University, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the vaccine is a milestone in the efforts to save vulnerable koalas.
University of the Sunshine Coast
“UniSC knew a single-dose vaccine – without the need for a booster – was the answer to reducing the rapid, devastating spread of this disease, which accounts for as much as half of koala deaths across wild populations,” said Professor of Microbiology Peter Timms, who spearheaded the research. “Some individual wild colonies, where infection rate can be as high as 70%, are edging closer to extinction every day.
“We were determined to do the hard yards to move from research to this vital next stage – a high-quality, veterinary-approved product that can now be used in wildlife hospitals, veterinary clinics and in the field to protect the nation’s most at-risk koalas,” he added.
The future for koalas is looking better
The last IUCN Red List evaluation for the koala Phascolarctos cinereus was more than 10 years ago, in 2014. Since then, the species has faced many challenges accelerating their population loss in Australia: habitat clearance, disease and wildfires. In the summer of 2019, more than 6,200 koalas in New South Wales – 15% of the state’s population – are thought to have perished in the devastating fires. There fires are expected to become more common and more extreme in the climate crisis.
The vaccine, manufactured by Tréidlia Biovet and approved by Australia’s veterinary medicine regulators, is a major move in helping to keep these animals away from the brink of extinction and prevent unnecessary suffering through this disease. Until now, the only intervention has been antibiotics, which in turn upset the koala’s delicate digestive tract – one fine-tuned to solely eat eucalyptus leaves. This disruption has led to koalas starving and, in some cases, dying as a result. And antibiotics don’t protect koalas from repeat infections.
University of the Sunshine Coast
The path to the vaccine also included the largest and longest study of wild koalas, also led by UniSC. Over the span of a decade, 680 koalas were tracked, and five vaccine trials saw 165 animals given the shot. This ultimately confirmed the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Over a decade, 680 koalas were tracked, with five vaccine trials involving 165 koalas.
“This study found it reduced the likelihood of koalas developing symptoms of chlamydia during breeding age and decreased mortality from the disease in wild populations by at least 65%,” said Sam Phillips, a UniSC researcher who led the extensive trials. “The vaccine has been trialed on hundreds of wild koalas, others in captivity and wildlife hospitals, and over multiple generations.
“It’s based on Chlamydia pecorum’s major outer membrane protein (MOMP), and offers three levels of protection – reducing infection, preventing progression to clinical disease, and, in some cases, reversing existing symptoms,” Phillips added.
The vaccine has six components, designed to provide widespread protection for the native wildlife regardless of where they’re located across Australia. Importantly, it’s a minimally invasive intervention, with an individual koala only needing one jab for life.
University of the Sunshine Coast
“Three [of the six components] are the proteins of chlamydia, designed to cover the different strains of chlamydia circulating in different parts of the country,” Timms said. “There are also three parts to the adjuvant, which we are very pleased to have designed as a single-shot adjuvant. Many vaccines require a booster, but we’ve purposely developed a vaccine that only requires one shot, and for a wild animal like koalas, that is what you really need.”
However, the vaccine’s approval is just the first step. More funding will be required to roll out vaccination programs to populations around the country. And administering jabs to wildlife is not as easy as taking a pet to the vet – koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day, hidden high in tree canopies where they remain well-camouflaged. Because they’re most active at night, are solitary outside of mating, and are spread over vast distances, getting the medicine to the animals presents a lot of logistical challenges.
“Every contribution will go towards vaccinating at-risk koalas and to help reverse the alarming impacts of this disease,” Timms said. “We are also continuing to refine the product and conduct ongoing research to ensure the vaccine’s long-term success.”
The trial research was published in 2024 in the Nature Partner Journals’ Vaccines.
Source: University of the Sunshine Coast
Hamas asserts top officials survived Israeli attack in Doha, while acknowledging six fatalities
David Gritten and
Paul AdamsDiplomatic correspondent, in Jerusalem
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has said five of its members were killed in an Israeli air strike in Qatar’s capital, but claimed that an attempt to assassinate its negotiating team “failed”.
Hamas said the negotiating team was meeting to discuss the latest US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at a residential compound in Doha when it was badly damaged by a series of explosions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was “fully justified” because it targeted senior Hamas leaders who organised the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war.
Qatar condemned the Israeli attack, calling it “cowardly” and a “flagrant violation of international law”.
The Gulf state’s interior ministry said one member of its Internal Security Force was killed and others were injured, without mentioning any Hamas casualties.
The White House said US President Donald Trump believed the incident was “unfortunate” but that eliminating Hamas was “a worthy goal”.
Qatar is a key US ally in the region that is the location of a major American air base.
It has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012, and has served along with the US and Egypt as a mediator in indirect negotiations between the group and Israel.
Witnesses in Doha said they heard as many as eight separate explosions on Tuesday afternoon, with plumes of smoke rising above the city’s northern Katara district.
The strike hit “residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas”, according to Qatari authorities.
Within minutes, Israel said it was behind the blasts.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet internal security service said in a statement that they conducted “a precise strike targeting the senior leadership” of Hamas.
Later, Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli security forces had been ordered on Monday to prepare for a possible strike “after the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza” – a reference to the killing of six Israelis by two Palestinian gunmen at a bus stop in Jerusalem and the killing of four Israeli soldiers in an attack on an army camp in Gaza City.
“The prime minister and the defence minister believed that the action was fully justified given the fact that it was this Hamas leadership that initiated and organised the October 7 massacre, and – since then – has not ceased from launching murderous operations against the State of Israel and its citizens,” they added.
Israeli media reported that the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target within a few seconds.
An Israeli official was cited as saying the Hamas members targeted included Khalil al-Hayya, the chief negotiator and exiled Gaza leader, and Zaher Jabarin, the exiled West Bank leader.
ReutersA Hamas statement denounced the Israeli strike as a “a heinous crime, a blatant aggression, and a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws”.
“We confirm the enemy’s failure to assassinate our brothers in the negotiating delegation,” it said, without providing any evidence.
The group named five members who it said were killed, including Khalil al-Hayya’s son, Humam, and Jihad Labad, the director of Hayya’s office.
“Targeting the negotiating delegation, as they discussed US President Donald Trump’s latest proposal, confirms beyond doubt that Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any agreement and are deliberately seeking to thwart all opportunities and thwart international efforts,” it said.
Hamas also said it held the US administration “jointly responsible” for the attack because of its support for the Israeli military.
The White House said it was notified by the US military that Israel was attacking Hamas.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
She added: “President Trump immediately directed special envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did.”
Afterwards, Trump spoke to Israel’s prime minister, who told him that “he wants to make peace and quickly”, according to Leavitt.
The president also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and “assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil”, she added.
The Israeli prime minister’s office earlier stressed that it was a “a wholly independent Israeli operation”. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” it said.
Qatar’s government reacted with fury to Israel’s actions, saying: “This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”
Similar statements of outrage came from across the Arab world, with Saudi Arabia denouncing what it described as the “brutal Israeli aggression”.
UN Secretary General António Guterres also condemned the strike, saying it was a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar”.
He said Qatar had been “playing a very positive role to achieve a ceasefire and release of all hostages”, adding: “All parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the strike was “unacceptable regardless of motive”, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned of the risk of “further escalation across the region” and called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
Pope Leo XIV told journalists that “the entire situation is very serious”.
ReutersFor the families of the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, the news triggered a fresh wave of desperate anxiety.
“I am shaking with fear,” Einav Zangauker, whose son, Matan, is among those in captivity, wrote on X.
“It could be that in these very moments the prime minister has actually assassinated my Matan. Why does he insist on blowing up any chance of a deal?”
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said he shared the families’ concerns.
“Hamas members deserve death,” he posted, “but at this point the Israeli government needs to explain how the IDF’s action will not lead to the killing of the hostages, and whether the risk to the hostages lives was taken into account.”
On Monday, Katz had warned Hamas leaders living abroad that they would be “annihilated” and Gaza “destroyed” if the group did not release its hostages and lay down its arms.
His remarks came a day after Hamas said its negotiating team was communicating with mediators about the latest US proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Trump said at the time that Israel had accepted his terms, without giving any details, and gave Hamas what he called a “last warning” to accept it too.
A Palestinian official told the BBC the US plan would see the hostages freed in the first 48 hours of a 60-day truce in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.
Speaking to an audience at the US embassy in Jerusalem on Tuesday night, Netanyahu said the Israel’s action in Qatar could “open the door to an end of the war”.
He confirmed that Israel had accepted the US plan and urged the people of Gaza to follow suit, saying: “Stand up for your rights and for your future. Make peace with us.”
Israel has killed many top Hamas leaders over the past 23 months.
The group’s exiled political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed by an explosion at a guesthouse during a visit to Iran in July 2024.
Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the 7 October attack and succeeded Haniyeh, was killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza in October 2024.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 64,605 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.