Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In the aftermath of a controversial Israeli airstrike on Doha that reportedly targeted senior Hamas leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump sought to distance his administration from the operation, emphasizing that the decision was made unilaterally by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu; it was not a decision made by me,” Trump stated in a message posted to his Truth Social account. His comments followed an earlier statement read by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said the strike “does not advance Israel or America’s goals” in the region.
‘I view Qatar as a strong ally and friend and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW!’.
Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani said the US warned his country of Israel’s attack ten minutes after it began. He also said his country ‘reserves the right’ to respond to Israel’s ‘blatant attack’, which is a ‘pivotal moment’ for region.
The airstrike, which involved more than ten Israeli fighter jets and over ten munitions, struck a single target in the Qatari capital, Doha. According to an Israeli official, the long-range mission required mid-air refueling, indicating a high degree of planning and precision. The target is believed to have been high-ranking members of Hamas, though the strike has triggered widespread international concern over the violation of Qatari sovereignty.
President Trump acknowledged that the United States had been informed too late to intervene. “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 wrote.
The incident has further strained regional tensions at a time when diplomacy is seen as critical to de-escalating the ongoing war in Gaza. In an effort to stabilize relations, Trump placed a phone call to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, during which he reportedly condemned the Israeli action and expressed solidarity with Qatar.
According to a statement from the Amiri Diwan, the official office of the Qatari Emir, Trump reaffirmed the strong strategic alliance between the United States and Qatar. He stressed that “diplomatic solutions are sufficient to resolve outstanding issues in the region” and called upon the Emir to continue Doha’s mediation efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Trump also directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Qatar, an enhancement to an existing pact that was originally amended during Trump’s visit to the Gulf state in May.
The president reportedly assured Qatari leadership that such an incident “will not happen again on their soil,” signaling Washington’s commitment to upholding Qatari sovereignty amid growing unease over regional military operations conducted without U.S. coordination.
Qatar has long played a central role as a mediator in Middle Eastern diplomacy and currently hosts several political leaders from Hamas, a factor that has drawn both scrutiny and praise from different corners of the international community. Its open diplomatic channels with a wide array of actors in the region have made it a vital player in any potential ceasefire or peace negotiations.
As Washington attempts to reassure its Gulf ally and contain the political fallout, questions remain about how this strike could affect broader U.S.-Israeli relations, as well as the stability of Qatar’s unique role in Middle East diplomacy.
The incident underscores the delicate balance the U.S. must maintain between supporting its long time ally Israel and preserving strategic relationships with key partners like Qatar, especially at a time when regional tensions are threatening to spiral beyond Gaza’s borders.
