Trump Issues Rare Rebuke to Netanyahu Over Qatar Strikes

US president assures Qatari Emir no repeat of Israeli attack on Doha

Uncommon Criticism from Trump

President Donald Trump delivered a rare public rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israeli forces struck Hamas positions in Doha, Qatar. The US president stressed that Washington had no role in the decision and expressed frustration at being left uninformed.

“We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” Trump told reporters during a brief stop at a Washington restaurant.

A Sensitive Flashpoint

The Israeli strike created immediate diplomatic tensions. Qatar has been central in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas on both the Gaza war and hostage releases. The Gulf state also hosts a major US airbase and, earlier this year, gifted Washington a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet for Trump’s official use — a gesture that already stirred ethical debate.

Calling Qatar a “strong ally and friend of the US,” Trump underlined his regret over the attack’s location, while still describing the effort to eliminate Hamas as a “worthy goal.”

White House Caught by Surprise

Trump explained that US officials learned of the attack only minutes before it happened. The military alerted the White House as the strikes were underway. Trump said he immediately ordered Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatari leaders, but the message reached them too late.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump voiced “very clear” concerns directly to Netanyahu. Vice President JD Vance echoed the criticism, saying the attack “does not serve Israel’s interests or America’s interests,” but added it could still create “an opportunity for peace.”

Reactions in Israel and Qatar

After the incident, Netanyahu told Trump he remained committed to peace. Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, also stressed that the two nations were still united in their goal of eliminating Hamas as a threat to regional stability.

Qatar, however, strongly condemned the attack. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Doha received no warning. “The call from an American official came as explosions sounded in the capital,” he posted on social media.

Seeking to Contain Damage

To ease tensions, Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Doha. He also assured Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”

Qatar continues to face the risk of regional conflict spillover. Only months ago, Iran launched missile strikes on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
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