US President Donald Trump has said that Israel’s airstrike in Qatar was authorised solely by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that it was not a decision made or backed by Washington.
Trump described the strike, which killed five senior Hamas members including the son of exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, as “unilateral” and warned it risked undermining both American and Israeli interests. The attack, the first on Qatari soil, has drawn sharp condemnation across the Middle East and internationally.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar … does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, 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 admitted the warning came too late. Qatari authorities rejected that claim, saying they received no prior notice and that the only US call came after explosions had already rocked Doha.
Following the incident, Trump spoke separately with Netanyahu and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, telling the latter he felt “very badly” about the attack and assuring him “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
Speaking later to reporters, Trump said he was “not thrilled” with Israel’s action, describing it as “not good,” while emphasising the urgency of securing the release of Israeli hostages.
The strike has intensified scrutiny on Israel, which has been accused of genocide by rights experts over its Gaza campaign that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population since October 2023. Israel insists its actions are in self-defence following Hamas’ October 7 assault that killed 1,200 people and led to more than 250 hostages being taken, according to Israeli figures.
The war has since spread beyond Gaza, with Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. Qatar remains central to ceasefire and hostage negotiations, a role now complicated by the unprecedented attack on its capital.
