Donald Trump Clarified That Netanyahu Is Responsible For Israeli Attack In Qatar, Not Him
Trump said the Israeli attack in Doha was “unfortunate,” though he also called wiping out Hamas a “worthy goal''
WASHINGTON—On Sept. 9, President Donald Trump described Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the action was taken by Israel and not directed by him.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that the U.S. military had informed his administration about the strike. He added that he spoke afterward with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which, very unfortunately, was in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar,” Trump wrote.
“This was Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision, not mine,” Trump said, reiterating comments made earlier by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a same-day briefing.
In his statement, Trump criticized the strike, saying that “unilaterally bombing inside Qatar—a sovereign nation and close U.S. ally working hard and taking risks to broker peace—does not serve the interests of Israel or the United States.”
Still, he added that the elimination of Hamas, which he said has exploited the suffering of people in Gaza, remains “a worthy goal.”
Trump said he “immediately directed” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatari officials about the strike, but acknowledged it was “too late to stop the attack.”
Qatar denounced the strike and maintained that it had received no advance notice from the United States.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari dismissed claims that Doha had been warned in advance, writing on X that such reports were “baseless.” He said a U.S. official’s call came only as “the sound of explosions” from the Israeli strike was already underway in the capital.
Trump expressed regret over the strike’s location, saying he felt “very badly” about it. He added that he had spoken with Qatar’s emir and prime minister afterward and assured them that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
In its own statement on X, the Israel Defense Forces said it had carried out a “precise strike” targeting senior Hamas leaders, though it did not confirm the strike’s location.
In a statement shared on his personal X account, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office emphasized that the strike was entirely an Israeli operation. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Qatar and Egypt have continued their role as mediators between Hamas and Israel in attempts to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza.
On Truth Social, Trump called for the release of all hostages and the return of the bodies of the dead, demanding that the conflict “END, NOW!” He added that he had spoken with Netanyahu after the strike and said the prime minister voiced a commitment to peace. Trump suggested the episode might ultimately present “an opportunity for peace.”
The U.S. Embassy in Doha temporarily ordered staff and facilities to shelter in place and advised American citizens to follow suit. The advisory was lifted shortly afterward.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had implemented measures before the strike aimed at “mitigating harm to civilians.”
The strike on the Qatari capital came a day after a shooting in Jerusalem that killed six people and injured at least a dozen others.
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