US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel’s airstrike in Qatar was the decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that it was not authorised by Washington and does not serve American or Israeli interests.
Israel launched the strike in Doha on Tuesday, targeting senior Hamas political leaders and killing five members of the group, including the son of exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya. The attack, the first of its kind on Qatari soil, has been widely condemned across the Middle East and internationally as a move that risks deepening instability in the region.
Trump, writing on Truth Social, criticised the strike as a “unilateral” action against “a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States” that has been playing a key role in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar … does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he said, though he added that eliminating Hamas remained “a worthy goal.”
The president said he had instructed US envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatari officials before the strike, but acknowledged that the warning came too late. Qatari authorities rejected that account, insisting that no advance notice was given and that a US call only came once explosions were already shaking Doha.
After the strike, Trump spoke with both Netanyahu and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, telling the latter he felt “very badly” about the attack’s location and assuring him “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.” Speaking later to reporters in Washington, Trump said he was “not thrilled” with Israel’s action, describing the situation as “not good” while emphasising the need to secure the release of Israeli hostages.
The strike has intensified pressure on Israel, which has faced accusations of genocide from rights experts over its military campaign in Gaza since October 2023. That offensive has killed tens of thousands, displaced the entire population of Gaza, and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel, however, insists its actions are acts of self-defence following Hamas’ October 7 assault, which left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.
The war has since expanded beyond Gaza, with Israel conducting strikes in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. Qatar, meanwhile, remains central to efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages, a role now complicated by Israel’s unprecedented strike in Doha.
Melissa Enoch
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