United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump requested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commit to no longer carrying out attacks on Qatar after the attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, two sources familiar with the situation stated.
According to media reports, Netanyahu did not consult with Trump nor with his main advisers until the rockets were already in the air. The attack enraged the White House and alarmed leaders in the region and around the world.
The attack was harmful not only to Israel’s global reputation but also potentially to the U.S.
The Qatari prime minister told the White House that his country will now reconsider the security partnership with Washington after this act of “betrayal” and, in an interview, stressed that Gulf leaders are discussing ways of responding.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu did not publicly apologize; he even indicated that he might order a new attack, regardless of Trump’s request.
Media reported that Trump’s advisers were genuinely shocked by the attack in Qatar, a close U.S. ally and the seventh country that Israel has bombed since October 7th, 2023.
“I am not thrilled with the whole situation. I was very dissatisfied with every aspect,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday evening.
One source close to Trump said that the way Netanyahu and his adviser Ron Dermer handled the situation “was an unpleasant reminder” of behavior that had previously caused tensions with Trump during his first term.
Trump held two phone conversations with Netanyahu on Tuesday about the attack in Qatar, U.S. officials said.
During the first call, Trump expressed disappointment with the Israeli decision and confusion about the long-term goal of the attack.
“This is unacceptable. I demand that you do not repeat it,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Trump then informed the Qatari emir and prime minister, who were furious. A former U.S. official said that Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that he considered this a betrayal by Israel and the U.S.
Al-Thani told the White House that Qatar, after being attacked by Iran and then by Israel within six months, will conduct a deep assessment of its security partnership with the U.S., “and maybe find other partners” who can support its security, said a source with direct knowledge.
The White House did not respond to the request for comment.
Netanyahu nevertheless hinted at a new attack
In a video published on Wednesday, Netanyahu rejected criticism and hinted that he would not hesitate to order a second attack on Qatar if Hamas leaders remain in that country.
“I say to Qatar and all the countries that provide shelter to terrorists: either expel them, or bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will,” he said.
Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar was similar to the U.S. pursuit of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan after September 11th. “What did the U.S. do after September 11th? It promised to hunt down the terrorists who committed this heinous crime, wherever they were. Yesterday we acted accordingly,” Netanyahu said.
Despite these statements, Netanyahu asked Qatar to lead mediation efforts with Hamas after the October 7th attack, and for years, previously mediated the transfers of money from Qatar to Hamas.
“The entire Gulf is in danger”
Prime Minister al-Thani said that Netanyahu “must be brought to justice” for violating international law by attacking Qatar, which he called an act of “state terror.”
He said that Qatar is discussing a response with partners in the region. “The entire Gulf is in danger.”
Leaders in Europe and across the world also condemned the Israeli attack.
Hamas claims that the attack was unsuccessful because its top leaders survived. It is still not completely clear which members were killed and which were not.
