US President Donald Trump delivered a rare rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, criticizing Israel’s strikes against Hamas in Qatar and stressing that Washington had no involvement in the attack.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a Washington restaurant, Trump said he had not been briefed beforehand about Israel’s military action in Doha, a city central to mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing Gaza war and the negotiations to secure the release of hostages.
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation,” Trump said. “We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.”
The Israeli strike in Doha was especially delicate given Qatar’s dual role as both a mediator in Gaza peace efforts and the host of a major US airbase. The Gulf nation also made headlines earlier this year by gifting Washington a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet for Trump’s use, a move that sparked ethical debates.
Trump distanced himself from the decision, writing on social media: “This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack,” though he added that the elimination of Hamas remained a “worthy goal.”
The president also emphasized the potential damage the move could cause to peace efforts. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” he stated.
Trump explained that the White House was alerted only after the Israeli operation had already begun. “I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack,” he said.
After the strike, Trump spoke with Netanyahu, insisting the incident could still be turned into an opportunity. “The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE,” he remarked.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump had delivered a “very clear” message to Netanyahu expressing his concerns. The criticism marked a sharp departure from Trump’s usual unwavering support for Israel’s leader since his return to the presidency in January.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, sought to downplay tensions, telling Fox News that the US and Israel remain “united in the effort of eliminating Hamas as being a threat to peace in the Middle East. We have acted together in the past, we’ll act together in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar voiced strong objections, stating it had no prior warning of the strikes. “The call received from an American official came as explosions sounded from the Israeli attack in Doha,” Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari posted on social media.
In response, Trump said he had instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a defense cooperation deal with Qatar and reassured Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a phone call that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
The attack once again thrust Qatar into the center of Middle East hostilities, just months after Iran launched missiles at the US Al Udeid airbase in June in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
What you should know
Trump’s rare public criticism of Netanyahu over the Israeli strikes in Qatar highlights the strain such actions place on US diplomacy in the Middle East.
While reaffirming ties with Doha, Trump stressed that Washington had no role in the attack, signaling his intent to safeguard Qatar’s role as mediator while balancing America’s alliance with Israel.
