Trump says Israeli airstrike on Qatar was Netanyahu’s decision, not US

(Web Desk): US President Donald Trump has stated that the decision to carry out an Israeli airstrike on Qatar was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not by his administration, adding that a unilateral attack on a close ally like Qatar is not in the interest of either the US or Israel.

According to the British news agency Reuters, on Tuesday, Israel launched an airstrike in Qatar in an attempt to target Hamas political leaders, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The attack has been widely condemned globally and described as a move that could further deteriorate the situation.

Trump said he had instructed US envoy Steve Wotkoff to warn Qatar about the impending attack; however, the warning arrived too late.

Qatar rejected the White House’s claim, saying it received no prior warning. According to Qatari officials, a call from a US official came only after explosions had already begun in Doha.

On the social media platform Truth Social, President Trump wrote: “Qatar is a sovereign nation and a close US ally, playing a courageous role in peace efforts. A unilateral bombing on such a nation does not advance U.S. or Israeli objectives.”

He added that while dismantling Hamas — which, he said, exploits the suffering of Gaza’s population — is a legitimate goal, the method of attack was inappropriate.

Hamas claimed that five of its members were killed in the Israeli strike, including the son of exiled leader Khalil al-Hayya.

The US considers Qatar a key Gulf ally and has relied on it as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the release of hostages, and post-war arrangements in Gaza.

Following the Israeli strike, Trump spoke with both Netanyahu and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, assuring the Qatari leadership that “such an action will not be repeated on their soil.” He also expressed regret over the location of the strike.

Later, speaking to reporters, Trump said he was “not happy” about the operation. “This is not a good situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not satisfied with what happened today,” he said.

During Trump’s remarks, nearby protesters chanted slogans such as “Free, free Palestine” and “Stop arming genocide.”

It is worth noting that since October 2023, Israel’s operations in Gaza have displaced a large portion of the population, killed thousands, and led to famine-like conditions.

Legal experts have described Israel’s actions as tantamount to genocide; however, Israel claims the operations are a response to the October 2023 Hamas attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. During the ongoing Gaza war, Israel has also launched attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen.