Doha strike Gaza deal increased diplomatic pressure
Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, said during a September 13 security conference that Israel became increasingly isolated after its September 2025 strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha. Kushner described the operation as unsuccessful and said Washington used the resulting diplomatic pressure to help push Israel toward a hostage-ceasefire agreement.
Israel's September 9, 2025 attack in Qatar targeted senior Hamas figures involved in negotiations. Five lower-ranking Hamas members and a Qatari security officer were killed, while senior Hamas leaders survived. Later that month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the killing of the Qatari officer and the violation of Qatar's sovereignty and pledged that Israel would not conduct another such strike there.
The episode became a significant diplomatic setback because Qatar was playing a central role in mediation between Israel and Hamas.
BRICS Palestine declaration adds pressure on Israel
International pressure also increased at the September 12-13 BRICS summit in New Delhi. The official declaration reaffirmed support for a sovereign Palestinian state within the internationally recognised 1967 borders, including Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
BRICS leaders also called for Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory where they remain and urged all parties to respect the ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The declaration adds to broader diplomatic calls for a two-state solution as concerns continue over civilian casualties, displacement and instability across Gaza and the wider region. UN humanitarian agencies continue to report deaths and injuries in Gaza despite the October 2025 ceasefire framework, citing figures supplied by Gaza's Ministry of Health.
West Bank sanctions deepen Israel diplomatic tensions
Pressure has also shifted toward Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. On September 8, Britain, France, Canada and other governments announced plans for national or European restrictions on trade connected to settlements, citing settlement expansion, rising settler violence and risks to a future Palestinian state.
Britain has announced plans to prohibit imports from settlements and restrict services supporting settlement expansion. Israel responded by ordering the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and announcing additional diplomatic countermeasures.
NAZA film controversy sparks domestic backlash
Israel's international image has also become part of a domestic cultural dispute. Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar has called for action against filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after their Gaza documentary NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
The documentary draws on testimony from Israeli military and intelligence sources and examines allegations surrounding AI-assisted targeting and civilian casualties in Gaza. The Israeli military has rejected allegations presented in the film. Zohar has accused the filmmakers of damaging Israel during wartime and has sought steps that could affect their citizenship, although any such move would face legal procedures and scrutiny.
Israel election puts Netanyahu under added pressure
The diplomatic disputes come at a politically sensitive moment for Netanyahu. Israel is scheduled to hold a general election on October 27, 2026, with Netanyahu attempting to consolidate right-wing parties as polling points to a difficult contest for his coalition.
Israel continues to defend its security policies while facing criticism over Gaza, settlements and military operations beyond its borders. The growing number of disputes does not mean Israel is without international partners, particularly the United States, but the scale of criticism from allies and multilateral blocs shows that Netanyahu enters the election under unusually intense diplomatic pressure.
