Trump: “Israel must be very careful - Qatar is a great ally”
After Israeli strike in Doha, U.S. president distances himself from the decision and warns against endangering relations with Arab allies
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U.S. President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Israel following its airstrike in Qatar’s capital, Doha, which targeted senior Hamas leaders as part of Operation “Summit of Fire.” Speaking to reporters in New Jersey before boarding a flight back to Washington, Trump said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government “need to be very, very careful.”
“They need to do something about Hamas, but Qatar is a great ally of the United States,” Trump said, stressing that the Gulf emirate is “a wonderful partner” that “needs better public relations” to reflect its contributions. He added: “Israel and everyone else should be careful. When we attack people, we must be careful.”
Distancing From the Strike
Following the strike, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the operation was “Netanyahu’s decision, not mine.” Later, he told reporters he was “not happy at all with the Israeli strike in Qatar,” describing it as “not a good situation.”
Although Trump reaffirmed that eliminating Hamas leaders remained “a worthy objective,” he criticized the timing and execution, saying that he had instructed his envoy Steve Witkoff to notify Qatari officials of the operation, but “unfortunately it was too late to stop it.”
Qatar has long served as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, while maintaining close security and defense ties with Washington. Trump’s latest remarks underscore the tightrope the U.S. must walk between backing Israel’s campaign against Hamas and safeguarding its strategic partnerships in the Gulf.