Washington: The White House on Tuesday described Israel’s strike on Hamas officials in Doha as an “unfortunate incident.” Officials confirmed that former US President Trump disagreed with the location of the attack and directly conveyed his concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the Trump administration was informed by the US military about the strike. She said the attack occurred in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar, a nation considered a close ally of the United States.
“Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation working with us to broker peace, does not advance US or Israeli goals,” Leavitt stated.
She added that while eliminating Hamas remains a “worthy goal,” President Trump views Qatar as a strong partner. According to her, he felt “very badly” about the location of the strike and emphasized the need to protect ties with Doha.
Leavitt noted that Trump directed Special Envoy Steven Witkoff to notify Qatari officials about the impending strike. She also confirmed that Trump personally spoke with Qatari leaders afterward, assuring them such an incident would not happen again. However, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry denied receiving advance notice of the attack.
Israel’s military claimed it carried out a “precise strike” targeting Hamas leadership in Doha. In response, Qatar condemned the strike as a “blatant violation of international law” and a direct threat to its sovereignty.
The Gulf nation, alongside Egypt and the US, has been leading mediation talks between Israel and Hamas. Observers say the strike risks undermining those diplomatic efforts.
Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 64,600 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. The campaign has devastated the enclave, where famine conditions continue to worsen.
International courts are also reviewing war crimes and genocide cases against Israeli leaders, further adding to the global fallout.
In other news read more about: 15 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza hospital, including journalists
