MOSCOW, Sept 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Moscow on Wednesday blasted Israel for a strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, saying it undermined peace efforts in the Middle East.

"Russia considers the incident a grave violation of international law... an encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state, and a step leading to further escalation," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Later Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed Al Thani in which he "reaffirmed his firm condemnation of this aggressive action".

In the call he slammed "the grave danger which Israel's actions represent", which Lavrov said "were leading to a new destabilisation of the situation in the Middle East".

Israel's targeting of Hamas leaders in Qatar, which has been mediating efforts to end Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, has sparked international condemnation.