U.S. President Donald Trump issued a rare public rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, condemning Israel’s strikes against Hamas targets in Qatar and insisting Washington had no role in the attack.
Speaking to reporters during an evening outing in Washington, Trump said he was blindsided by Israel’s decision to bomb in Doha — a Gulf state that not only hosts a massive U.S. airbase but also serves as a key mediator in negotiations over Gaza and the release of Israeli 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.”
Sensitive Strike on a U.S. Ally
The attack struck at the heart of one of America’s closest regional allies. Qatar, a wealthy energy hub, has been central to U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East. The emirate recently gifted Washington a luxury Boeing 747-8 for Trump’s presidential use — a gesture that stirred controversy over conflicts of interest.
“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, not by me,” Trump wrote later on social media. “I view Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States, and I feel very badly about the location of the attack.”
While reaffirming that eliminating Hamas remained a “worthy goal,” Trump warned that “bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States … does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.”
U.S. Caught Off Guard
The White House emphasized that it had little warning. Trump said he learned of the strike through U.S. military channels and ordered his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to alert Qatari officials — but admitted the warning came “too late to stop the attack.”
“I spoke to the Prime Minister after the strike. He told me he wants to make peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE,” Trump said, striking a cautiously optimistic note.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump delivered a “very clear” message of concern to Netanyahu, marking a rare departure from Trump’s otherwise staunch support for the Israeli leader since returning to office.
Fallout and Reassurances
Qatar’s foreign ministry said it received no prior warning, with spokesman Majed al-Ansari posting online that the U.S. call came “as explosions sounded from the Israeli attack in Doha.”
The fallout has heightened regional tensions, coming just weeks after Iran targeted the U.S. Al Udeid airbase in Qatar in retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Seeking to reassure Doha, Trump said he directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Qatar and personally told Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, downplayed the rift, telling Fox News the U.S. and Israel “remain united in the effort to eliminate Hamas as a threat to peace in the Middle East.”
About the Author
