U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Israel’s airstrike in Qatar was a unilateral decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that it was not authorised by Washington and did not serve American or Israeli interests.
The strike, carried out in Doha, targeted senior Hamas political leaders and killed five members of the group, including the son of exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya. It was the first Israeli attack on Qatari soil and has drawn widespread condemnation across the Middle East and beyond for escalating regional instability.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump criticised the move as an assault on “a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States” that has been central to mediation between Israel and Hamas. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar … does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he said, while noting that eliminating Hamas remained “a worthy goal.”
The president said he had instructed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatari officials ahead of the strike but admitted the warning came too late. Qatari authorities rejected that account, insisting no notice was given before explosions rocked the capital.
Trump later spoke separately with Netanyahu and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, telling the Emir he felt “very badly” about the strike and assuring him such an incident would not be repeated. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said he was “not thrilled” with Israel’s action, calling the situation “not good” but underscoring the need to prioritise the release of Israeli hostages.
The attack has added pressure on Israel, which is already facing genocide allegations over its ongoing war in Gaza. Since October 2023, the conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced the enclave’s entire population, and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Israel maintains its operations are acts of self-defence following Hamas’ October 7 assault that left 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage.
The war has since spread across the region, with Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. Qatar, a key broker in ceasefire and hostage negotiations, now faces heightened challenges after Israel’s unprecedented strike in Doha.
