US President Donald Trump says Israel's decision to strike Qatar was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not by the Republican leader, who added that a unilateral attack on Qatar does not serve American or Israeli interests.
Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an air strike in Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its military action in the Middle East. The strike was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could further escalate tensions in a region already on edge.
Trump said he directed US envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar the attack was coming but it was too late to stop the strike. However, Qatar contradicted such claims from the White House, saying reports it got a heads-up before the attack were false and a phone call from a US official came when blasts were already being heard in the Qatari capital Doha.
“Unilaterally bombing Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the US that is working hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America's goals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
Hamas said five of its members were killed in the Israeli attack in Doha, including the son of Hamas' exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya.
Washington counts Qatar as a strong Gulf ally. Qatar has been a mediator in trying to arrange a deal for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and for a plan on a post-conflict Gaza.
After the strike, Trump spoke to Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
He assured Qatar's leader that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil”, Trump said, adding he felt “very badly” about the location of the attack.
Trump later told reporters in Washington he was “not thrilled” about the Israeli strike in Qatar.
“I'm not thrilled about it,” Trump said. “It's not a good situation, but I will say this: We want the hostages back, but we're not thrilled about the way it went down today [Tuesday].”
As Trump made the comments, pro-Palestinian protesters who had gathered nearby chanted “Free Palestine” and “stop arming genocide”.
US ally Israel's assault on Gaza since October 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and set off a starvation crisis. Multiple rights experts and scholars say Israel's military assault on Gaza amounts to genocide.
Israel says its actions amount to self-defence after an October 2023 attack by Hamas militants on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.