Trump says Netanyahu made decision to strike Qatar, not him
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Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an air strike in Qatar on Sept 9, escalating its military action in the Middle East.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on Sept 9 that Israel’s decision to strike Qatar was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not by the Republican leader, who added that a unilateral attack on Qatar did not serve American or Israeli interests.
Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas
The strike was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could further escalate tensions in a region already on edge.
Mr Trump said he directed US envoy Steve Witkoff to warn Qatar that the attack was coming, but it was too late to stop the strike.
But Qatar contradicted the White House claims, saying reports it received before the attack were false, and that a phone call from a US official came when blasts were already being heard in the Qatari capital Doha.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States, which is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“However, eliminating Hamas, which has profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
Hamas said five of its members were killed in the Israeli attack in Doha, including the son of Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya.
Washington counts Qatar as a strong Gulf ally.
Qatar has been a mediator in efforts to arrange a deal for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and a plan for a post-conflict Gaza.
After the strike, Mr Trump spoke to both Mr Netanyahu and to the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
He assured the Qatari leader that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil”, Mr Trump said, adding that he felt “very badly” about the location of the attack.
Mr Trump later told reporters in Washington that he was “not thrilled” about the Israeli strike in Qatar.
“I’m not thrilled about it,” he said. “It’s not a good situation, but I will say this: We want the hostages back, but we’re not thrilled about the way it went down today.”
As Mr Trump made the comments, pro-Palestinian protesters who had gathered nearby chanted “Free free Palestine” and “Stop arming genocide”.
US ally Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population, and set off a starvation crisis.
Multiple rights experts and scholars say Israel’s military assault on Gaza amounts to genocide.
Israel says its actions amount to self-defence after an October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants
Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict. REUTERS
